Indonesia, along with over 120 countries, has also joined the Glasgow Declaration, which among others affirms their commitments to halt the loss of forests in 2030.
By
M Paschalia Judith and A Tomy Trinugroho from Glasgow, Scotland
·4 minutes read
AP/NATACHA PISARENKO
A man walks over the Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park near El Calafate, Argentina, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. World leaders are gathered in Scotland at a United Nations climate summit, known as COP26, to push nations to ratchet up their efforts to curb climate change. Experts say the amount of energy unleashed by planetary warming could melt much of the planet's ice, raise global sea levels and increase extreme weather events.
Forests are one of the key elements on which the world is pinning its hopes to halt the pace of climate change. On the other hand, the Indonesian government has stated that deforestation is inevitable to meet development needs.
GLASGOW, KOMPAS — Indonesia is striving to end deforestation but for reasons of development it cannot yet be totally ceased. Efforts to reduce emissions in the forestry sector continue through the implementation of various activities, such as sustainable forest management, forest and land rehabilitation as well as peat and mangrove restoration.
In his speech, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo when attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow stated that deforestation had been significantly reduced and reached the lowest rate in the last 20 years. Indonesia targets to achieve the net sink of forest and land use (FoLU) in 2030.
Indonesia, along with over 120 countries, has also joined the Glasgow Declaration, which among others affirms their commitments to halt the loss of forests in 2030.
However, according to Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar on Tuesday (2/11/2021), during the Insightful Talks on Climate Change Issues held by the Indonesian Students Association (PPI) of Greater Glasgow and the United Kingdom at the University of Glasgow, the FoLU net sink in 2030 does not mean zero deforestation or that deforestation ends in 2030.
BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo once again conveyed the policies and commitments of the Indonesian government in rehabilitating forests while integrating them with economic and social aspects. This was stated at the World Leaders Summit on Forest and Land Use which was also held at the Scotish Event Campus, Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday (2/11/2021).
In the latest document of Indonesia’s emissions reduction target (updated nationally determined contributions/NDC), an estimated deforestation of 325,000 hectares per year during 2020-2030 is still listed. If it runs in the business-as-usual manner, deforestation could even reach 820,000 hectares annually.
Through the FoLU net sink, neutral carbon is expected to occur in the forestry sector (including that related to deforestation) in 2030. “Even in that year and later it can be negative or a carbon absorption/storage takes place in the forestry sector. Therefore, the development progressing on a large scale in the era of President Jokowi should not be halted in the name of carbon emissions or deforestation,” she said.
This is because the cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement of 2015 is multilateral and considered more difficult and less concrete.
In achieving the FoLU net sink in 2030, Indonesia warmly welcomes the aid worth 350 million pounds sterling (Rp 6.8 trillion) from the United Kingdom. Similar bilateral cooperation is being sought with other countries. This is because the cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement of 2015 is multilateral and considered more difficult and less concrete.
Deputy Environment and Forestry Minister Alue Dohong on Wednesday in Glasgow said the aid constituted cooperation for 10 years. The cooperation was arranged in the presence of Alue and UK Minister for the International Environment and Climate Zac Goldsmith.
Through the FoLU net sink, Indonesia wishes to achieve a condition of higher carbon absorption or at least equal to the amount of carbon released from the activity of forest/land clearance. This is done by, among other things, carrying out forest rehabilitation and lessening deforestation.
Kompas
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, center, demonstrates with others in front of the Standard and Chartered Bank during a climate protest in London, England, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. People were protesting in London ahead of the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26), which starts Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland.
According to Alue, the fund from the UK government will likely be utilized for the mangrove planting program due to its big target, totaling 630,000 hectares until 2024.
Methane reduction
At COP26 in Glasgow, the United States and the European Union initiated the Global Methane Reduction Pledge signed by more than 100 countries to slash methane gas in the atmosphere by 30 percent in 2030. This initiative was welcomed although it was not yet optimal. Moreover, coal producing countries, Australia, Russia, China and India, rejected.
“Cutting back on methane emissions is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce near-term global warming so that we have to cut emissions fast,” said European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen.
PLN and ADB
Meanwhile, state electricity company PT PLN (Persero) is committed to reducing carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants to support the government target to achieve Carbon Neutral 2060. This is realized with
the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PLN president director Zulkifli Zaini and Asian Development Bank (ADB) director general for Southeast Asia Ramesh Subramaniam, amid the COP26 sessions in Glasgow.
The scope of cooperation covers a complete feasibility study of the technical and financial aspects of reduction of coal-fired power plants. Besides, it also evaluates structure of energy transition, explores other suitable programs or mechanisms and designs a fair program for transitional technical aid. (AFP/DNE/MAR/MTK/MHD)
