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Discourse: Indonesia, UK trying hard to get on track to tackle climate change
Nick Bridge (gov uk)United Kingdom special representative for climate change Nick Bridge deems the 2015 Paris Agreement to be a historic accord, in which the world agreed to decarbonize
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Nick Bridge (gov uk)
United Kingdom special representative for climate change Nick Bridge deems the 2015 Paris Agreement to be a historic accord, in which the world agreed to decarbonize. However, after three years there has been little progress made by the parties to fulfill their commitments under the climate deal. The Jakarta Post’s Kharishar Kahfi talked with Bridge on the sidelines of his recent visit to Indonesia about the extent to which Indonesia and the UK have realized their promises and how the two could achieve more ahead of the 2020 climate conference. The following are excerpts from the interview.
Question: What progress have parties made in fulfilling their obligations under the 2015 Paris Agreement?
Answer: We’re on a very bad track at the moment and we need to get on the right track. However, I think it’s a powerful argument that what’s good for the climate now is good for the economy.
We need leadership from our governments as well as to be ambitious and to have a vision for society, clean cities, new technologies, transportation and everything else. We need policies and regulations.
We need pressure from civil society, from communities to say that we have a problem and we want the solution. We need businesses — small, medium and large ones — to change direction toward a green financial system.
I’ve been having very good discussions with Indonesian authorities. Indonesia is undergoing an energy transition. The President [Joko “Jokowi” Widodo] is opening new wind farms and geothermal power plants.
Indonesia will be a leader [thanks to] the rich potential for clean energy and in terms of sustainable cities and transportation. Renewables, as the President said, are very important not only in remote communities in the east of the country, but also for helping to clean up cities. So, I think it’s a very exciting moment. Indonesia is a very constructive partner in the international
negotiation.
However, the UK, Indonesia and all of these countries need to go further. The big challenge in 2020 is that we get back together again and review the Paris Agreement. We will decide if we still have enough action. At the moment, we have nowhere near enough action.
Which sectors do you think Indonesia needs to focus on?
Energy as well as the protection and enhancement of forests and wild lands are going to be two huge contributions by Indonesia to the global effort. Those can be huge contributions to the global challenge, while being good for the people of Indonesia. We’re ready to help in any way we can.
Are there any specific examples of cooperation between Indonesia and the UK in tackling climate change?
First, are sustainable commodities, such as timber and palm oil. Another one is the renewable energy program, as we’re looking at piloting new community energy in the east of the country. Another is collaborating around the green sustainable financial system.
The UK government highly supports Indonesia’s sustainable timber action, which resulted in the SVLK [timber legality assurance system]. It is also a very encouraging pointer to the progress the government is making in pushing for sustainable palm oil.
Some of these have been going on for more than 10 years and we hope it goes on in the future.
President Trump has announced the US’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. How does this affect countries efforts to fulfill their promises?
One important issue is money. The wealthier countries promised US$100 billion per year in climate finance to support the poorest countries face the climate impacts they are experiencing. By 2020, we will deliver the money. That commitment stands absolutely, despite whatever the position of the US is.
Secondly, the Paris Agreement is a set of national commitments that have come together to form a global agreement. So, the United States can decide what action it wants to take. Meanwhile, everyone else will remain completely committed to the framework of the Paris Agreement.
The US has shown great leadership in the past, which was crucial, including in reaching the Paris Agreement. So, we would like the US to continue to show that leadership going forward.
But it is the President’s choice. Of course, limiting the temperature rise is a very difficult challenge and everyone in the world has to take part in that. So, we continue to press the US administration to embrace it.
