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RI to lobby China on Copenhagen climate talks

Indonesia will seek China's commitment on a voluntary emissions cut target, to prevent a much-feared deadlock in climate change talks to be held in December in Copenhagen

Adianto P. Simamora (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sat, November 7, 2009

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RI to lobby China on Copenhagen climate talks

I

ndonesia will seek China's commitment on a voluntary emissions cut target, to prevent a much-feared deadlock in climate change talks to be held in December in Copenhagen.

State Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said China would play a key role in the success of the Copenhagen talks, given that developed nations wanted emerging economies such as China to have binding targets on emissions reductions.

"If China were to commit to a voluntary emissions cut target, I believe the United States and other wealthy nations would follow," Gusti said Friday.

He added he had also talked with European ambassadors in Jakarta to seek their support for a successful Copenhagen conference, which runs from Dec. 7 to 18.

Indonesia is one of the first developing countries to have announced a target on emissions reductions.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono pledged Indonesia would cut its emissions by 26 percent by 2020 on a voluntary basis, financed through the state budget.

Indonesia also said it would slash carbon emissions by 41 percent if developed nations provided financial support.

Gusti said the government would also carry out research to ensure the 26 percent target was viable.

"We'll discuss the 26 percent target with all sectors on Monday," he said.

Critics say the Copenhagen talks will not produce a binding climate treaty, with developed and developing countries not agreeing on emissions cut targets despite a series of conferences held this year.

The Barcelona conference, the fifth international meeting this year, which ended Thursday, also failed to come up with a target on emissions cuts and financial issues needed to mitigate climate change.

Scientists have called on developed countries to reduce emissions by 25 to 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 to help slow climate change.

"If rich nations still don't change their position, the possibility of deadlock in Copenhagen is big," Gusti said.

Yudhoyono has ordered Gusti and other ministers to formulate a firm position for Indonesia in Copenhagen and seek ways to bridge the differences among parties in the talks.

The world applauded Indonesia's leadership at the 2007 climate change in Bali with its road map requiring countries to agree to a new climate treaty in 2009 to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

Before the Bali conference, Yudhoyono had sent a number of envoys, including former environment ministers Emil Salim and Nabiel Makarim, and former ambassador to the United States Sumadi Brotodiningrat, to lobby countries including the United States, China and Japan to help make the conference a success.

Former environment minister Rachmat Witoelar said the pledge to cut emissions was made in the country's own interests.

"Such an emissions cut target will help stop forest fires and facilitate a shift toward a low-carbon economy," he said.

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