Indonesia leads call for scheme to save forests
A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR plan to protect forests and lessen global warming is set to be backed by an alliance of nations home to more than 80 per cent of the world’s tropical rainforests.
The grouping of up to 20 countries will be announced during UN talks on climate change in New York on Monday, following a meeting chaired by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The alliance will claim negotiations on a post-Kyoto protocol are not adequately tackling deforestation, which contributes up to a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is expected to call for billions of dollars in climate change funding to be allocated to nations that preserve their forests.
The alliance is expanding rapidly. Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said that a month ago, eight nations were to participate. Days ago, the number rose to 12 and now another eight have asked for invitations.
Critically, the alliance includes Brazil and Indonesia, which are the world’s fourth- and third-largest greenhouse-gas emitters when deforestation is taken into account.
Members also include Costa Rica, Colombia, the Congo, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea and Peru.
With Indonesia hosting the pivotal UN meeting in December to determine a new formula to combat global warming, Dr Yudhoyono is in a unique position to shape the debate.
Indonesia’s UN representative said Dr Yudhoyono’s trip to New York showed his personal commitment to the issue.
As well as heading the meeting of rainforest nations, Dr Yudhoyono will attend a leaders’ global warming summit called by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a General Assembly session on climate change.
Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar said the rainforest nations would commit themselves to sustainable forest management and develop an action plan at the New York meeting.
The alliance aimed to increase the bargaining position of rainforest nations at the Bali negotiations in December to shape the successor to the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Witoelar said.
In an effort to swing attention away from reducing industrial carbon emissions, Mr Witoelar said tropical forest management had to become part of the post-Kyoto agenda. The concept of “avoided deforestation” had to be recognised and rewarded, he said.
Essentially, countries with remaining tropical forests are asking to be compensated, probably with carbon credits, for not logging them. Under the Kyoto Protocol, a carbon credit scheme of financial incentives specifically excludes forest protection. Only replanting is eligible for assistance.
A recent World Bank report was highly critical of continued forest logging in Indonesia.
Source: http://www.theage.com.au/news
Add comment September 21st, 2007