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RI to lead negotiations at int'l climate talks
Indonesia will represent all World Ocean Conference member countries at global climate talks, following the adoption by leaders of ocean states of the much-awaited Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) on Thursday
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Indonesia will represent all World Ocean Conference member countries at global climate talks, following the adoption by leaders of ocean states of the much-awaited Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) on Thursday.
Indonesian delegation head Arief Havas Oegroseno said the country would set up a special team to promote ocean issues at multilateral, regional and bilateral meetings, to get the MOD included in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
"The MOD document no longer belongs to Indonesia. We must represent countries in the WOC at international meetings," he said.
He said the conference had accommodated the interests of Indonesia, including protecting small fishermen and vulnerable areas from the impacts of climate change.
Delegates from 74 countries signed the MOD on Thursday. However, only 14 ministers, mostly from developing countries, attended the conference.
Havas said Indonesia had also set up a road map to meet a target of declaration.
Indonesian environment minister Rachmat Witoelar said he would set up a team to negotiate the declaration and propose the MOD at international meetings.
Under the road map, the MOD will be presented at meetings such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting and the United Nations General Assembly in New York, before being tabled at the world's highest climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
The APEC Marine Resource Working Group in June has been targeted to get the MOD to become a preparatory document for the third APEC ocean-related ministerial meeting in Peru in April 2010.
Indonesia's climate negotiators will begin their talks at the climate consultation meeting in Bonn, Germany, in June 2009.
Indonesia will also report on the results of the Manado conference to UN members at an informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea (UNICPOLOS) in New York, also in June.
The declaration will also be brought to the Major Economies Forum summit in Paris, which will be attended by leaders of 17 developed countries, including the United States, Australia and Japan.
The summit, organized by the US, will invite major emitters from Asia, namely China, India and Indonesia, to discuss global energy and climate issues.
At the UN General Assembly in New York in November, Indonesia will also deliver a speech to seek support from the assembly for a resolution on oceans by adopting the MOD principles.
"We will seek support to get the MOD into the UN system," minister Rachmat said.
The MOD adopted the role of oceans in climate change, requiring funds to ensure integrated management of coastal and marine resources. The funds will come from the UN Adaptation Fund Board.
It also requires financial incentives to help developing nations practice sustainable ocean environmental management in meeting poverty alleviation targets.
The Manado declaration also stipulates the need for cooperation on research into climate change impacts on oceans and coastal areas.
Nations around the world are in the process of negotiating a new climate regime to address issues of climate change and forge a new international agreement entailing deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions toward a low-carbon future.
Articles related to UNFCC
* The need to promote affordable, environmentally sound, renewable ocean technologies and know-how, particularly in developing countries, noting the relevant provisions in the UNFCCC
* Inviting parties to the UNFCCC to consider developing and submitting climate change adaptation project proposals for coastal and ocean management to the Adaptation Fund Board for consideration
* Encouraging the efforts by the UN secretary-general to facilitate cooperation and coordination in the UN system to address climate change, to emphasize the importance of ensuring that activities relating to the ocean continue to be reflected in this process
* Reiterating the importance of achieving an effective outcome at the COP-15 of the UNFCCC in Copenhagen 2009, and inviting parties to consider how the coastal and ocean dimension could be appropriately reflected in their decisions
