E

nvironment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar has said that the United States would continue its environmental projects worth around US$1 billion in Indonesia amid doubts over Washington’s commitment to fight global warming under the leadership of US president-elect Donald Trump.

The minister made the statement following a closed-door meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry and delegates from 15 other major economies—including China, Brazil and Germany—on the sidelines of a climate conference in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Wednesday.

The projects, which have been running since 2011, include assistance to stop forest fires, assistance for 9,000 households in rural areas and the use of renewables, such as wind energy in Sidrap, South Sulawesi.

Siti said the Indonesian government was currently preparing a special financial unit to manage the flow of international funds to support the country’s environmental projects.

The special unit is urgently needed as the country is expecting assistance in its effort to reduce carbon emissions.

“There should be the proper corridor for the international assistance to allow accountability. We are currently preparing a regulation to set up the financial unit,” Siti said.

In the meeting, Kerry assured delegates of the 16 countries, including Indonesia, that the US would maintain its strong presence and leadership in the global cause.

The surprise victory of US business tycoon Trump in the Nov. 8 presidential election, just two days after the climate conference began, has sent jitters to the delegates who are working their way to translate the landmark Paris agreement, in which 197 countries pledged to cut emissions, into action.

A climate contrarian and coal proponent, Trump has said that climate change was a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese and expressed the intention to revamp the country’s coal industry during his campaign.

Kerry, who proceeded to address a plenary meeting at the conference, said although he would not speculate on the new administration’s policy, people should not be too concerned about what the president-elect had said since life in public office is different than during a campaign trail.

He said everyone should remain committed to the Paris agreement to save billions of lives around the world.

“For those in power in all parts of the world, including my own, who may be confronted with decisions about which road to take at this critical juncture, I ask you, on behalf of billions of people around the world [...] Do your own due diligence before making irrevocable choices.” Kerry said.

The US, the world’s largest economy and second largest global emitter, was scorned for abandoning the Kyoto Protocol, the previous agreement that only obliged developed countries to cut emissions.

President Barack Obama has upended the trend and laid out a climate action plan to support the country’s commitment.