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Indonesia expected to play leading role in climate summit: EU envoy
Indonesia is expected to bridge the interests of developing and developed countries in the crucial climate change summit next month, a European Union (EU) senior official said, as countries have been unable to resolve financing issues to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.
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Protesters take part in a demonstration against climate change in Brussels on Oct. 10, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). (AFP/Nicolas Maeterlinck)
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ndonesia is expected to bridge the interests of developing and developed countries in the crucial climate change summit next month, a European Union (EU) senior official said, as countries have been unable to resolve financing issues to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is set to join other leaders at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, which starts on Oct. 31. At the summit, countries are expected to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) as part of efforts to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement on track, namely limiting the rise in global average temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and aiming to stay within 1.5 degrees.
Indonesia has updated its NDCs to include ocean and marine issues in its emission reduction strategy. Confirming its first NDC pledge in 2016, the country has committed to cutting back on carbon emissions by 29 percent independently or 41 percent with international assistance.
However, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told United States climate envoy John Kerry during his recent visit to the US that Indonesia could increase its conditional target to up to 50 percent with support from the US.
Frans Timmermans, the European commissioner for the European Green Deal, said Indonesia, as a developing country, was crucial in the effort. The Dutch politician and diplomat visited Indonesia and India this week to gather support for a more ambitious commitment at the Glasgow meeting.
“Indonesia is traditionally a bridge-builder between nations and we will need bridge-builders if we are to reach a consensus in Glasgow,” he said in an interview with Indonesian media on Tuesday.
Several developed countries have reportedly lobbied the United Nations to play down the need to move away from fossil fuels in the latter’s report that compiles scientific evidence to tackle climate change, BBC News reported on Thursday. Developed countries are also questioning the need to pay more to less-developed countries to finance their transition into greener technologies.
