T

he issue of terrorism looks likely to overshadow the G20 Summit of the world'€™s 20 biggest economies in the wake of the deadly Paris terror attacks, while French President Francois Hollande has cancelled his trip to the G20 Summit.

President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo highlighted the importance of building stronger international cooperation in tackling terrorism during a G20 working dinner to discuss the terrorism and refugee crises on Sunday evening, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said.

'€œBecause, I believe, no single country will be free from terrorism threats. There is no other way to eradicate terrorism other than through international cooperation. That is what the President has addressed during the working dinner on counterterrorism,'€ Retno said.

Reuters reported on Sunday that a draft statement said that G20 leaders had agreed to step up border controls and aviation security following the Paris attacks.

The leaders condemned the attacks claimed by the Islamic State (IS) movement as '€œheinous'€ and said they remained united in fighting terrorism, according to the draft document, as reported by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Think 20 (T20), a group of think tanks from the G20 member countries, has highlighted the importance '€œto address the economic and social underpinnings of terrorism'€, calling on the G20 to prioritize its efforts in promoting '€œglobal sustainable development and building the basis for longer-term shared prosperity'€.

The T20 also reiterated the call made by finance ministers of the G20 member countries in a September communiqué, which reaffirmed a commitment to fight against financial support for terrorist activities, urging countries to criminalize terrorist financing to limit their movements.

Retno said, so far, there was no report that Indonesian citizens were among the victims and she made assurances that her office would maintain coordination with the Indonesian Embassy in Paris and the Indonesian Consulate General office in Marseille to ensure better protection for Indonesians in France.

The terrorism issues, including the Islamic State, were also on the table during a meeting between US President Barack Obama and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier on Sunday ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit.

In another development, Jokowi urged developed countries to be role models for reducing carbon emissions, as well as to support the efforts of developing countries, including by increasing their financing, participating in the transfer of technology and capacity building.

'€œEach country should give its commitment to ensure a successful COP21,'€ Jokowi said.

Jokowi made the statement ahead of the UN climate conference, the COP21, that is to take place in Paris at the end of this month.

Minister Retno has said that Jokowi would also address the importance of providing a political boost for the success of the upcoming COP21.

'€œ[The President] will also address the importance of respecting the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities. He will also express Indonesia'€™s commitment to reduce emissions,'€ Retno added.

Indonesia has submitted to the United Nations its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), an outline of what post-2020 climate-change mitigation actions a country intends to take in order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, in which is laid out Indonesia'€™s target of a 29 percent emissions reduction by 2030, or 41 percent if the country receives international funding.

Activists, however, have urged the government to revise its INDC, saying the emissions target is flawed and indicative of the government'€™s lack of a long-term commitment to tackle climate change, let alone achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most glaring flaws of the INDC, the activists said, was that it is not quantifiable.

The Boston-based Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has also criticized Indonesia'€™s INDC, saying that as an important forest nation, Indonesia has failed to present a goal to end deforestation and peat land clearing. According to the UCS, Indonesia currently has a moratorium on clearing primary forests and banned peat land clearing in 2010, but it does not indicate whether the commitments can be maintained in order to achieve its overall emissions reduction goal.

The UCS also said that Indonesia'€™s INDC did not provide a quantified target, nor did it elaborate on the country'€™s plan to deal with its recurring forest and peatland fires, one of the country'€™s greatest sources of emissions in recent years.
_________________________________________