This week saw the welcome news emerge that Indonesia has guaranteed to substantially cut the growth of its greenhouse gas emissions, saying the promise could help talks on developing a wider international accord to combat climate change, CIG has been advised.
Steps by Indonesia and by big developing countries to curtail their emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases are a primary focus of U.N.-led climate talks under way in the Thai capital until mid October.
Representatives from around 180 countries are attempting to narrow differences on emissions reduction targets, climate finance and transfer of clean-energy technology ahead of a December deadline to try to close a stronger pact to replace the Kyoto Protocol, CIG observers say.
Late last month, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said his government was drafting a policy that would cut emissions by 26 percent by 2020 from "business as usual” levels.
With international support, CIG understood, which he felt critical in any commitment, he said he was confident Indonesia could cut emissions by as much as 41 percent.
"This target is entirely achievable because most of our emissions come from forest-related issues, such as forest fires and deforestation,"
Indonesia also said it was looking at changing its forest status from that of a net emitter sector to a net sink sector by 2030, a move that could give it a strong hand in the carbon credit market.
