On 26 May 2010, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg withnessed an agreement in Oslo under which Norway will invest in US$ 1 Billion forest conservation projects in Indonesia.
In return, Indonesia will suspend for two years new concessions for the conversion of peat and natural forests lands.
Part of the money will be spent on creating monitoring systems and pilot projects under as U.N backed forest preservation scheme called Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) which allows developing countries to earn money by not cutting down trees and preserving Carbon-rich peat lands, seen as a key to slow climate change because forest soak up huge amounts of greenhouse gases.
To implement the deal, Indonesia must set up a new government agency that will prioritize and coordinate REDD projects.
On 30 December 2010, President SBY announced that the Province of Central Kalimantan has been selected as a pilot REDD province, however he has not sign a decree that will make the forest moratorium legally binding.
But until February 2011, President SBY has still not sign a presidential decree that would serve as a legal instrument to stop the conversion of forest land into commercial plantations and mining area.
Showing posts with label Carbon Gas Emission. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carbon Gas Emission. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Selling Carbon Credits for Indonesian Forests
The World Bank estimates that if the world put a monetary value on the Carbon stored in trees, Indonesia could earn up to $2 billion a year by selling Carbon Credits.
Indonesia is getting ready for an international plan known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD).
Last year, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) has promised world leaders that Indonesia shall reduce Carbon Gas Emission by 2020 i.e 26% if we do it by ourselves, or 41% if helped by other countries.
On 26 May 2010, Norway and Indonesia has signed a US$ One Billion deal aimed at reducing Deforestation, in return Indonesia shall suspend new concession on conversion of natural forest and peat land into plantations for two years.
There are several pilot projects throughout the country, and earlier this year the Russian company Gazprom bought the first carbon credits from a REDD project.
Considering that President SBY will end his second presidential term by 2014, I hope that his successors will fulfill all the commitments that have been made.
Source :
- Indonesia Hopes to Sell Carbon Credits for Its Forests (VOANews)
- Norway and Indonesia sign US$ 1 billion forrest deal (REDD Monitor)
Photo : Courtesy of VOA News
Friday, August 6, 2010
Illegal Logging Today
President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono has promised international leaders that Indonesia will voluntarily reduce 26% Carbon Emission by 2020. And if we are helped by other countries, we can even reduce up to 41%
For this purpose, the government has planned massive replantation of forest trees and to stop the cutting of forest trees.
However, it seems that it's not easy to stop the cutting of forest trees because many of them are done illegally as reported by Kompas below.
Due to this fact, I hope that the the government would do everything in its power to stop illegal cutting of forest trees, that way Indonesia can keep its promise to reduce Carbon Emission.
For this purpose, the government has planned massive replantation of forest trees and to stop the cutting of forest trees.
However, it seems that it's not easy to stop the cutting of forest trees because many of them are done illegally as reported by Kompas below.
Due to this fact, I hope that the the government would do everything in its power to stop illegal cutting of forest trees, that way Indonesia can keep its promise to reduce Carbon Emission.
Indonesia 'Woefully Inadequate' on Illegal Loggers
Kamis, 5 Agustus 2010 | 17:38 WIB
AFP
This aerial picture taken on July 6, 2010, over eight concession areas of Indonesias biggest palm oil firm Sinar Mas, shows receding forest cover near Sinar Mas plantation area in Kapuas Hulu in West Kalimantan province on Borneo island. Sinar Mas is undergoing an independent audit of its practices, the results of which are expected in July following a Greenpeace report that the Indonesian firm was devastating rainforests and driving endangered species like orangutans into extinction. Anglo-Dutch food and cosmetics giant Unilever said on May 19, 2010 it would continue to get 65 percent of its total palm oil purchases from Indonesia, despite concerns about deforestation by the industry. Nestle, the worlds largest food company, had also dropped Sinar Mas as a palm oil supplier but said on May 17, 2010 it would resume buying from the company if an independent audit cleared the Jakarta-based firm of improper practices. Borneo island is rapidly losing its vast virgin forest due to palm oil plantations and illegal logging that is largely contributing to global warming. Sinar Mas said the palm oil industry is crucial to alleviating poverty in Indonesia as it provides direct employment for about 4.5 million people and generated 10.4 billion USD worth of exports last year.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia is allowing powerful businessmen to get rich from smuggling rare timber to China despite its pledges to crack down on illegal logging and preserve its forests, environmentalists said Thursday. An undercover probe by the independent Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and local group Telapak found rampant smuggling of merbau, a valuable hardwood found mainly in Papua.
The probe tracked the illicit trade from the forests to the ships where the wood was being illegally exported, mainly to China, with the help of corrupt officials. Complaints to authorities about the two alleged kingpins in the trade had achieved nothing, the groups said in a report.
“While the huge quantity of illegal timber flowing from Indonesia during the first half of the decade has declined, effective law enforcement against those responsible — the financiers, company bosses and corrupt officials — has been woefully inadequate,” EIA campaign director Julian Newman said.
The groups called on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to make good on his promises to crack down on what he has called the “logging mafia” that is accused of destroying much of the country’s pristine forests. Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, mainly through deforestation.
Yudhoyono has pledged to slash its emissions by more than 40 percent over 2005 levels by 2020, as long as foreign donors pour billions of dollars into the country for forest preservation.
“The illegal trade of merbau is symptomatic of the wider problems and the governance failure in the forest sector in Indonesia,” Newman told reporters.
“It is not only the problems of Indonesia. China has been wide open to illegal timbers. We hope China will follow the US and the EU in banning illegal timber in a bid to protect forests.”
Telapak representative Hapsoro said the government was allowing the kingpins of the illegal trade to run riot.
“It is time for Indonesia to redouble its efforts to combat timber smuggling by going after the main culprits,” he said.
The probe tracked the illicit trade from the forests to the ships where the wood was being illegally exported, mainly to China, with the help of corrupt officials. Complaints to authorities about the two alleged kingpins in the trade had achieved nothing, the groups said in a report.
“While the huge quantity of illegal timber flowing from Indonesia during the first half of the decade has declined, effective law enforcement against those responsible — the financiers, company bosses and corrupt officials — has been woefully inadequate,” EIA campaign director Julian Newman said.
The groups called on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to make good on his promises to crack down on what he has called the “logging mafia” that is accused of destroying much of the country’s pristine forests. Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, mainly through deforestation.
Yudhoyono has pledged to slash its emissions by more than 40 percent over 2005 levels by 2020, as long as foreign donors pour billions of dollars into the country for forest preservation.
“The illegal trade of merbau is symptomatic of the wider problems and the governance failure in the forest sector in Indonesia,” Newman told reporters.
“It is not only the problems of Indonesia. China has been wide open to illegal timbers. We hope China will follow the US and the EU in banning illegal timber in a bid to protect forests.”
Telapak representative Hapsoro said the government was allowing the kingpins of the illegal trade to run riot.
“It is time for Indonesia to redouble its efforts to combat timber smuggling by going after the main culprits,” he said.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Indonesia, Greenpeace and Carbon Gas Emission
For many years, developed countries like the U.S.A, Britain, Japan, have been blaming deforestation in Indonesia as one of the major cause of the increase of Carbon Gas Emission in the world
Beside that, environmental activists like Greenpeace have also been blaming and successfully forced foreign buyers i.e. Unilever and Nestle, to stop buying from an Indonesian palm oil manufacturer that have been suspected of destroying forest.
Basically, I strongly oppose massive deforestation in Indonesia, because many of them were done illegally, causing natural disasters like frequent floods, landslides, and destroying the habitat of endangered species e.g Orangutan, Tigers, in Indonesia. Therefore I agree that such deforestation must be stopped or at least minimized.
However, I do not agree if Indonesia is lamed as a major producer of the world's Carbon Emission. As a matter of fact I strongly believed that those developed countries with their advanced industrial and other activities surely caused much larger Carbon Gas Emission, than deforestation in Indonesia.
Considering the above, I hope that Greenpeace would be fair by also paying more attention on Carbon Gas Emission in those developed countries. Especially that Indonesia has voluntarily promised to reduce 26% Carbon Gas Emission by 2020 and plan to stop new forestry license.
Related articles:
- Greenpeace Urges Indonesia to Broaden Forest Moratorium (Kompas)
- Cancellation of Forestry Permits (Multibrand)
Beside that, environmental activists like Greenpeace have also been blaming and successfully forced foreign buyers i.e. Unilever and Nestle, to stop buying from an Indonesian palm oil manufacturer that have been suspected of destroying forest.
Basically, I strongly oppose massive deforestation in Indonesia, because many of them were done illegally, causing natural disasters like frequent floods, landslides, and destroying the habitat of endangered species e.g Orangutan, Tigers, in Indonesia. Therefore I agree that such deforestation must be stopped or at least minimized.
However, I do not agree if Indonesia is lamed as a major producer of the world's Carbon Emission. As a matter of fact I strongly believed that those developed countries with their advanced industrial and other activities surely caused much larger Carbon Gas Emission, than deforestation in Indonesia.
Considering the above, I hope that Greenpeace would be fair by also paying more attention on Carbon Gas Emission in those developed countries. Especially that Indonesia has voluntarily promised to reduce 26% Carbon Gas Emission by 2020 and plan to stop new forestry license.
Related articles:
- Greenpeace Urges Indonesia to Broaden Forest Moratorium (Kompas)
- Cancellation of Forestry Permits (Multibrand)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Carbon Gas Emission
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.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Climate Change Conference
Yesterday, leaders of 120 countries reached a non-legally-binding agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Plus-minus of said agreement a.k.a the Copenhagen Accord as quoted from The Guardian.
What was agreed at Copenhagen – and what was left out
National leaders and sleep-deprived negotiators thrashed out a text late last night that could determine the balance of power in the world and possibly the future of our species. The list below gives a breakdown of the key points:
Temperature
"The increase in global temperature should be below two degrees."
This will disappoint the 100-plus nations who wanted a lower maximum of 1.5C, including many small island states who fear that even at this level their homes may be submerged.
Peak date for carbon emissions
"We should co-operate in achieving the peaking of global and national emissions as soon as possible, recognising that the time frame for peaking will be longer in developing countries …" This vague phrase is a disappointment to those who want nations to set a date for emissions to fall, but will please developing countries who want to put the economy first.
Emissions cuts
"Parties commit to implement individually or jointly the quantified economy-wide emissions targets for 2020 as listed in appendix 1 before 1 February 2010."
This phrase commits developed nations to start work almost immediately on reaching their mid-term targets. For the US, this is a weak 14-17% reduction on 2005 levels; for the EU, a still-to-be-determined goal of 20-30% on 1990 levels; for Japan, 25% and Russia 15-25% on 1990 levels. The accord makes no mention of 2050 targets, which dropped out of the text over the course of the day.
Forests
"Substantial finance to prevent deforestation; adaptation, technology development and transfer and capacity."
This is crucial because more than 15% of emissions are attributed to the clearing of forests. Conservation groups are concerned that this phrase lacks safeguards.
Money
"The collective commitment by developed countries is to provide new and additional resources amounting to $30bn for 2010-12 … Developed countries set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address needs of developing countries."
This is the cash that oils the deal. The first section is a quick financial injection from rich nations to support developing countries' efforts. Longer term, a far larger sum of money will be committed to a Copenhagen Green Climate Fund. But the agreement leaves open the questions of where the money will come from, and how it will be used.
Key elements of earlier drafts dropped during yesterday's negotiations:
An attempt to replace Kyoto
"Affirming our firm resolve to adopt one or more legal instruments …"
This preamble, killed off during the day, was the biggest obstacle for negotiators. It left open the question of whether to continue a twin-track process that maintains Kyoto, or whether to adopt a single agreement. Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada are desperate to move to a one-track approach, but developing nations refused to kill off the protocol.
Deadline for a treaty
"… as soon as possible and no later than COP16 …"
This appeared in the morning draft and disappeared during the day; it set a December 2010 date for the conclusion of a legally binding treaty. The final text drops this date, but small print suggests it will still be next year.
Plus-minus of said agreement a.k.a the Copenhagen Accord as quoted from The Guardian.
What was agreed at Copenhagen – and what was left out
National leaders and sleep-deprived negotiators thrashed out a text late last night that could determine the balance of power in the world and possibly the future of our species. The list below gives a breakdown of the key points:
Temperature
"The increase in global temperature should be below two degrees."
This will disappoint the 100-plus nations who wanted a lower maximum of 1.5C, including many small island states who fear that even at this level their homes may be submerged.
Peak date for carbon emissions
"We should co-operate in achieving the peaking of global and national emissions as soon as possible, recognising that the time frame for peaking will be longer in developing countries …" This vague phrase is a disappointment to those who want nations to set a date for emissions to fall, but will please developing countries who want to put the economy first.
Emissions cuts
"Parties commit to implement individually or jointly the quantified economy-wide emissions targets for 2020 as listed in appendix 1 before 1 February 2010."
This phrase commits developed nations to start work almost immediately on reaching their mid-term targets. For the US, this is a weak 14-17% reduction on 2005 levels; for the EU, a still-to-be-determined goal of 20-30% on 1990 levels; for Japan, 25% and Russia 15-25% on 1990 levels. The accord makes no mention of 2050 targets, which dropped out of the text over the course of the day.
Forests
"Substantial finance to prevent deforestation; adaptation, technology development and transfer and capacity."
This is crucial because more than 15% of emissions are attributed to the clearing of forests. Conservation groups are concerned that this phrase lacks safeguards.
Money
"The collective commitment by developed countries is to provide new and additional resources amounting to $30bn for 2010-12 … Developed countries set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address needs of developing countries."
This is the cash that oils the deal. The first section is a quick financial injection from rich nations to support developing countries' efforts. Longer term, a far larger sum of money will be committed to a Copenhagen Green Climate Fund. But the agreement leaves open the questions of where the money will come from, and how it will be used.
Key elements of earlier drafts dropped during yesterday's negotiations:
An attempt to replace Kyoto
"Affirming our firm resolve to adopt one or more legal instruments …"
This preamble, killed off during the day, was the biggest obstacle for negotiators. It left open the question of whether to continue a twin-track process that maintains Kyoto, or whether to adopt a single agreement. Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada are desperate to move to a one-track approach, but developing nations refused to kill off the protocol.
Deadline for a treaty
"… as soon as possible and no later than COP16 …"
This appeared in the morning draft and disappeared during the day; it set a December 2010 date for the conclusion of a legally binding treaty. The final text drops this date, but small print suggests it will still be next year.
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