Indonesia Ready to Lead Global Efforts to Overcome Global Warming

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia will ask developed nations to help reduce the worlds carbon emissions and show its seriousness in overcoming global warming during the Paris climate conference being held next week.

Indonesia is also ready to take the lead in global efforts to overcome climate change issues, setting a target to reduce its own emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

"The Indonesian President will raise several issues during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP-21) of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC). This will also show Indonesias recognition and grave concern for the climate issue and that it is ready to take the lead in overcoming global warming," Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir said on Thursday.

The ministry spokesman said Indonesia as an island state is one of the countries that is most affected by the impact of climate change.

For this purpose, Indonesia has prepared documents and plans to reveal a special mission during the climate change conference in Paris.

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said recently that a meeting with several officials led by President Joko Widodo had been held to discuss preparations for the climate change conference.

"The event is an important forum for the world. The President wants Indonesia, as an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, to deliver some documents. We will not just follow the will of the world," he remarked.

The presentation will be strengthened by including inputs from several experts and relevant ministries.

At the same meeting, Environment and Forestry Ministry Siti Nurbaya has also presented a document to be submitted during the global climate change conference in Paris.

"The decision to cut emissions to this extent has been calculated by the government and has been included in its development policy," the minister remarked.

The minister also pointed out that the government had taken into account the industrial and energy sector while arriving at the figure.

Minister Siti Nurbaya cited the example of the forestry sector, which has managed to lower emissions by 85 percent.

"Under the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), we have agreed to reduce emissions by 29 percent by 2030," Siti Nurbaya said after attending a meeting on climate change.

The INDC, she noted, was a structured document outlining Indonesias efforts on climate change.

The document will be tabled during the COP-21 next week (November 30 to December 11) in Paris, France.

According to Arrmanatha, COP-21 will be attended by 130 countries. France, as the host of the event, will assure that the heads of state attending COP-21 provide political encouragement for climate change negotiators from each nation to achieve an agreement with regards to cooperation steps in the handling of climate change.

In this regard, Indonesia during the COP-21 on climate change will also urge developed nations to help reduce their carbon emissions that cause global warming.

"Indonesia will encourage developed countries to contribute to emission reduction and mitigation in an effort to overcome the impacts of climate change," the Foreign Ministrys spokesman.

He noted that Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi will accompany President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the COP-21 event.

"President Jokowi will arrive on November 29 in Paris. He will deliver a statement during the leaders meeting. He will also inaugurate the Indonesian pavilion. The meeting in Paris will be held from November 30 to December 11, 2015," he remarked.

In the COP-21 meeting, Indonesia will urge industrial states to assist developing nations in overcoming the problems of climate change.

"We will continue to urge developed nations to take the lead and assist developing countries in overcoming global warming, such as the efforts to reduce carbon emissions through technology transfer," said Arrmanatha.

In the meantime, a lawmaker noted on Monday that Indonesia should play a greater role in the COP-21 of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aimed at saving the earth and mankind.

Greenhouse gases will lead to environmental degradation and impact the economy as well as the existence of the state, Andi Akmal Pasluddin of the Commission IV of the Parliament said.

Therefore, Indonesia should play a more active role in the COP-21, stated Akmal from the Islamic faction of Justice and Prosperous Party, which is a member of the opposition coalition.

Currently, the air temperature is rising in several parts of the world, including in Indonesia, thereby triggering climate change that endangers life, he affirmed.

Greenhouse gases, including H2O, CO2 (carbon dioxide), CH4 (Methane), N2O (Nitrous Oxide), O3 (ozon), and CFC (Chloro Fluoro Carbon) have significantly led to the increase in temperature.

"The COP-21 has to culminate with an international agreement to cope with the problem," he emphasized.

Every country, including Indonesia, should demonstrate its commitment while submitting the INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, he remarked.

Earlier, Minister for Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya had said that Indonesia will send a delegation to the COP-21 in Paris despite the recent terror attacks that left at least 129 people dead in the French capital.

"We are still firm in our decision to take part in the COP-21," the minister emphasized.

Several countries have warned their citizens of the dangers of visiting France after the terror attacks.

ANTARA