RI eyes UN climate fund for farmers

Indonesia is eying international funds to help local farmers adapt to extreme changes of climate after the United Nations called on climate-prone countries to apply for adaptation funds.

The government said Indonesia would apply for adaptation funds with the priority given to local farmers and people living in coastal areas.

The National Council on Climate Change (DNPI), a focal point for climate affairs, said the grant of adaptation fund would be used among others to improve weather predictions and creating new varieties of plants resilient with extreme change of climate.

“We are still drafting a proposal with concrete programs to apply for the fund,” Armi Susandi, the DNPI deputy chairman on adaptation working group, said Tuesday.

The adaptation fund, a self-standing fund established under the Kyoto Protocol, was derived from a 2 percent share of proceeds of the carbon trading in developing countries.

The World Bank serves as trustee for adaptation fund.

Developing countries can apply for the small-sized projects worth up to US$1 million and regular projects with the total grant of more than $1 million.