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RI against binding emissions cuts for developing nations
With much-awaited talks on emissions cuts underway, Indonesia has insisted any binding targets for reductions should be imposed only on developed countries, saying they are to blame for the adverse fallout from man-made climate change
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With much-awaited talks on emissions cuts underway, Indonesia has insisted any binding targets for reductions should be imposed only on developed countries, saying they are to blame for the adverse fallout from man-made climate change.
State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said Thursday it was unfair to “drag developing nations” into legally binding agreements on emissions cuts in a new climate regime currently being discussed in Bonn, Germany.
“If it is legally binding, it is not fair [for developing countries] and should not be done because nobody will heed it, not even Indonesia,” Rachmat said on the sideline of a climate change seminar in Jakarta.
“It’s the developed nations that should be bound to the compulsory reduction targets.”
The seminar was jointly organized by the French Embassy in Indonesia and, among others, WWF Indonesia, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Danone Aqua.
French Ambassador Philippe Zeller, however, underlined the importance of all countries being legally bound to emissions target, including developing countries.
“We have to consider that all countries have to share responsibility; not only the developed countries but also emerging nations,” he said.
“It’s time to have a binding figure for a new protocol.”
Delegates from 190 countries are in Bonn, Germany, to discuss the Bali road map stipulating the issues, ranging from technology transfer and a new regime on emissions cuts, to mitigation and adaptation funds.
The new climate regime will replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012 and requires developed countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent from 1990 levels.
The Bonn meeting is the second of five negotiation rounds before delegates are expected to agree on a final deal at a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December.
The debated draft text requires developed countries to reduce carbon emissions between 75 and 95 percent by 2050, measured against 1990 levels, and also sets concrete reduction targets for emerging economies, including India and China.
China has said it would step up efforts to combat climate change through a series of energy efficiency measures, but has also rejected a binding target.
Developed nations, some of which have set national targets, including EU countries, want developing nations to also stick to binding emissions cuts.
The US, which has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, has demanded China do more to tackle climate change under the UN pact to be agreed in Copenhagen.
Currently, China is the world’s second-largest emitter, after the US, of greenhouse gases. Indonesia is third.
China is part of a group of 77 developing countries (G77), led by Indonesia, discussing climate issues.
Rachmat said many developing nations had launched their own initiatives to slash emissions through energy efficiency.
“There is positive action by Indonesia and other countries to run low-carbon growth ... We’re doing it our way and we hope rich nations also [pursue deeper cuts],” he said.
Lobo Balia, a senior official at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said Indonesia ranked abysmally worldwide in terms of energy efficiency.
He added there was a need to improve energy prices to encourage the development of renewable energy, which could lead to a reductions in emissions.
“To cut emissions by 16 percent from the energy sector, Indonesia needs to implement an energy diversification and efficiency program,” Lobo said.
