Indonesia's battle against climate enters new level
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E-mail Xinhua, February 20, 2012
Indonesia's battle against climate change is entering a new phase as the country has adopted a new approach to improve forest and peat land governance in order to reduce emission.
The new approach called the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation + (REDD+) is not only about funding but also a mechanism to provide an opportunity to improve forest governance and to combine principles of conservation and economic growth in harmony. "Indonesian forest ranks the third biggest in the world. Meanwhile, more than 60 percent of green house gas emission in the country is generated by forests and peat lands. Therefore, emission reduction from forests and peat lands is a significant part to achieve the emission reduction target," said Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, head of REDD+ Institutional Task Force, who is also the head of Presidential Working Unit for Development Surveillance and Control.
He said that the aim of the scheme should cover a sustainable growth and alternative paths towards prosperity of people who are the most exposed of the program. The REDD+ Institutional Task Force, consisting of officials from ministries, academies, international organizations and others, was formed by the Presidential Decree No. 25/2911. It resumes the first task force that has ended its service on June 30, 2011.
The first task force has generated significant results such as REDD+ National Strategy documents that have been widely consulted with various stakeholders, the Presidential Instruction No. 10/ 2011 about forest moratorium and governance perfection of primary natural forest and peat land, and the selection of Central Kalimantan province as the pilot project of the first REDD+ program in Indonesia.
With the renewed mandate, the REDD+ Task Force will enter the phase of institutional development and strategic program implementation.
With the new approach, it is expected that the upcoming formed institution could be the one that is not only in line with the good governance which is transparent, participative and accountable, but also authoritative, responsive and adaptive on the fast moving world development.
Frank Jotzo, head of the Center for Climate Economics and Policy, a think thank at the Australian National University has said that Indonesia has an opportunity to lead regional action in combating climate change using its strategic position in ASEAN and through pioneering domestic policies to curb emission.
He said that a coordinated regional effort, including establishing a carbon market in the ASEAN+3 region could provide countries with the much needed financial support for climate change action. "A concerted regional approach could help attract bigger and more diverse financial support for climate change action. With its natural leadership in ASEAN, Indonesia could help pave the way for regional climate change action," said Jotzo. The draft of the national and local action plan to reduce green house gas emission is a part of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's commitment in G20 Summit in 2009 to reduce emission by 26 percent with 'business as usual' scenario in 2020 or 41 percent with international support. The commitment was welcomed by Norway and in May 2010, Indonesia and Norway entered a partnership to support emission reduction from deforestation and degradation through a contribution of 1 billion U.S. dollars that would be paid according to lowered emission. The United States also pledged more than 450 million dollars towards environment and climate change cooperation.
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