Sunday, March 21, 2010

Carbon Gas Emission

During the summit meeting of World G-20 learders in Pittsburg, U.S.A last September, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) promised that Indonesia will reduce Carbon Gas Emission by 26% in the year 2020.

As a consequence of this promise, Indonesia should stop deforestation and start  replanting trees in the  forests that have been cut down for commercial plantation, mining, etc.

Today, 6 month after SBY made his above promise, unfortunately the media have been reporting that there is no sign that deforestation will stop, as a matter of fact it seems that deforestation will be getting worst in   the years to come. This can be seen from the government's plan to give licenses to mining companies, commercial plantations and  electric power company to operate  in protected forests.

In spite of the above, there are also good news i.e. about the actions of international food companies i.e. Unilever and Nestle to stop buying Palm Oil from Indonesian company Sinar Mas because it's Palm Plantations continued to expand into rain forests and critical Orangutan habitat.

For details, please click here, here, here and here.

I hope that the government would stop giving license to commercial companies to operate in protected forests and start massive replanting of forest, so that SBY can fulfill his promise to reduce 26% Carbon Gas Emission in 2020.


Photo : Courtesy of Google.

12 comments:

Eci si Cami said...

Not only Indonesia has promised so sadly! We are on the brink of destroying the earth but people are indifferent!
All received that reduce pollution and make sure the land on which we live but few do it, most people with influence only promise and do nothing. Most interested them only earnings and not realize that maybe tomorrow himself or his family die in a tornado, landslide, earthquake, flood or any disease .......
Too bad we are not all more responsible!
Congratulations for this interesting post and greetings to you and your readers!

Unknown said...

Eci si Cami,
Yes, politicians love to take advantage of situations so as to get benefits for themselves.

Unknown said...

Friend,
First of all I would like to apologize because I cannot speak or understand Mandarin.
But I am very grateful that you have visited and commented on my blog.
Thanks a lot my friend.

colson said...

Deforestation is a shame. A lot of the wood is unnecessarily used for the production of paper for instance. And hardwood is a luxury commodity with can be disposed of as well.

Indeed the Indonesian authorities are to blame. But as much - or even more- those irresponsible companies and their clients (who are unwilling to renounce superfluous luxury or use substitutes for wood) are to blame. Without demand, no deforestation.

Unknown said...

Colson,
Deforestation is a DISGRACE, and inability to keep a promise to cut down carbon emission is WORSTS.
Without strict control, commercial plantations like Sinar Mas would be so wild in fulfilling their greed.

tour said...

It is only just a misunderstanding. and maybe not just sony are experiencing. Other hand, may also have.

Unknown said...

Tour,
Although your comment should be for the Sony case, but it's okay.
In the past, Sony Corp as a giant multinational company, may claim an exclusive right on trademark Sony.
But today competition is very tough among electronics company, so if Sony Corp insists on its claim, there's a big chance that it's market share in Indonesia will decrease.

Unknown said...

It makes no difference to anyone what happens to the forests in Indonesia. The oceans, the peat bogs are equally important to reducing global warming.
Surely the Carbon Gas emissions start at home with the AC running all day, the amount of traffic on the roads, the lack of exhaust emission rules for the said vehicles and the lack of education for all about this.
We can complain about the forests as we are not there, trying to make a living to support our families. Yet we use all the products that contain palm oil and therefore support indirectly the destruction of all what we hold dear.
Surely looking at what we do first will determine the future of the forests not the government.
Its easy to point the blame but ask yourself this, what really are you going to do tomorrow to make a difference? Stop washing your hair? Stop eating cookies, bread, snacks? turn off the AC? Buy recycled more expensive products? Take the Bus?
If the answer is no to those things then why does the forest matter so much?
Sorry I am ranting but feel better now :)

Unknown said...

Its hard for a country that is agri based to not cut down trees for food cultivation.Majority of the peeps are dependent on forest produce for lively hood and most farmers are still practicing the burning method that pollute the air.Of course the giant companies should know better than to do the same and destroying reserve forest.The logical thing to do is to have a proper and consistent forest management and to zone important water catchment areas as reserve areas.Some countries that have long ago destroyed their own green lungs are now dictating to us to stop cultivation.Maybe they should help by financing the forest management as well.

Unknown said...

@Luke,
You are right my friend, before be complain about deforestation, we should first ask ourselves how much "carbon foot prints" have we contributed to our surroundings?
Many city-dwellers, including me, lead life by spreading gas emission i.e. unlimited use of A/C, husband- wife each using car instead of sharing, etc.
I can understand cutting of Forrest by villagers looking for woods needed for their own need. The big problems are caused by big companies that cut & burn trees for plantations, pulp industry, mining, etc. The government should also be blamed for allowing protected forest to be used for commercial purposes without strict control as stipulated by the laws.


@Umihoney,
Precisely, good forest management according to the existing law should be implemented strictly.
I agree that some countries that in the past have been destroying Forrest are now trying to be saviors of forests. Actually they should provide all the needed assistance for saving the forest and consequence of not cutting trees.

oigal said...

Umihoney/Harry,

Whilst you have a point that Indonesia is one of the few countries (or used to be) that has vast tracts natural forests left until Indonesia can account for even a fraction of the millions of dollars already provided for environmental causes in Indonesia why on earth would you think other nations should provide yet more cash for only to see it disappear. Happy to stand corrected, if you can point out a single significant effort undertaken in Indonesia by the givernemtn and for the evironment.

I alwasy use the rivers of Jakarta as a measuring stick of just how serious Indonesians are about the environment they live in.

Unknown said...

Oigal,
Long time no see, thank you for dropping by.

Environmental issues have worried many countries of the world. In order to help, President SBY promised to reduce 26% emission by 2020. We can even reduce up to 40% if other countries want to help us in doing so, i.e. by providing financial aid. So it's up to other countries how much they want us to reduce.
Although I have my doubts, but in this case I believe that the government needs some time to prove its seriousness.