TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia will reportedly receive around US$56 million (roughly Rp826 billion) grant from Norway, as the first part of the payment, for reducing deforestation and carbon emissions overseen by the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) cooperation scheme.

Under the bilateral scheme agreed in 2010’s letter of intent, Indonesia must reduce deforestation and carbon emissions agreed by both parties.

The Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia Vegard Kaale said on Wednesday’s press conference in Jakarta, May 27, that the grant’s withdrawal will wait for the Indonesian Environmental Estate Fund (BPDLH) to be fully operational.

Based on independent verifiers appointed by the Norwegian government, Indonesia managed to reduce up to 11.2 million tons of CO2eq between 2016-2017, which far exceeds the initial report from Indonesian officials that suggested a reduction of 4.8 million tons of CO2eq.

The partnership is inspired by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change against global warming.

According to Vegard Kaale, reducing deforestation is not an easy task. He lauded the efforts shown by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar who managed to demonstrate leadership upon reaching the ambitious goal.

The Environment and Forestry Ministry Deputy Alue Dohong said that the government plans to make this accomplishment as a global example to realize the goals engraved in the Paris agreement.

ANTARA