RI delegates to 'break deadlock' on emissions cuts target

Adianto P. Simamora ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 11/03/2009 9:38 PM  |  National

The Indonesian delegation to the Barcelona climate change talks will strive to break the deadlock over sharing emissions cuts between developed and developing nations to achieve a new climate treaty in Copenhagen in December.

Delegation head Rachmat Witoelar warned that without serious commitments
from the United States and other developed nations to announce emissions cuts targets, the upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen would most likely fail to set a new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

“Time is running out. Indonesia, as the initiator of the Bali action plan, will strive to bridge differences to reach a global target [on emission cuts],” Rachmat, who is also head of the National Council on Climate Change (DNPI), said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post from Barcelona.

Negotiators from 190 countries have gathered in Barcelona from Nov. 2 to 6 to resolve the stalemate on establishing new emissions cuts targets after the end of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.

The Barcelona talks are the last chance for all countries to agree on measures needed to ease the pace of climate change before Copenhagen.

Rachmat said the Indonesian delegation would continue to push rich nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels.

“But we will also invite the big developing countries to perform voluntary actions in mitigating climate change as done by Indonesia,” he said.

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