POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - In a virtual meeting with Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya (Mar 23), COP26 President Alok Sharma referred to Indonesia as a climate superpower.
In response to this statement, Minister Nurbaya told FORESTHINTS.NEWS (Mar 23) she was very optimistic that Indonesia would continue to consistently play a role as a climate superpower at the greatest possible level in efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
Among the various core issues she discussed with the COP26 president were the Indonesia-UK forestry and climate partnership, enhanced climate ambitions, climate change adaptations, and the Indonesia-UK collaboration in preparation for COP26 which will be held in Glasgow next November.
“I expressed my appreciation of the long-running Indonesia-UK partnership as it pertains, among other things, to Indonesia's timber legality assurance system (SVLK) and Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT),” Minister Nurbaya affirmed.
Indonesia's deforestation rate during 2018/2019-2019/2020 reached its lowest level in the country's history, with remaining tropical natural forest cover amounting to 90.1 million hectares, equal to 3.7 times the size of the UK.
The first chart below shows the extent of Indonesia's tropical natural forest cover in 2019/2020. The second chart depicts the country's deforestation rate which dropped dramatically, by 75.03%, during 2018/2019-2019/2020.
As reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS (Mar 19), the UK recently announced new funding of £150 million to protect 2.1 million hectares of tropical rainforests across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Indonesia is one of the countries on the UK’s funding list.
The 2.1 million hectares targeted for protection by this new UK funding initiative are equivalent to 2.3% of Indonesia's total tropical natural forest cover in 2019/2020.
Updated NDC
Minister Nurbaya also elaborated on the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which has added new subjects and strengthened commitments, including by incorporating marine areas and wetlands (mangroves and peatlands).
As for the use of coal, she underlined Indonesia's plan to lower the use of fossil fuels gradually, with a reduction target of up to 60% by 2050.
“We intend to submit Indonesia's second NDC and Long Term Strategy (LTS) in April this year,” she said.
“Indonesia is maintaining its initial ambitious target as stated in the first NDC. That is to reduce emissions by 29% on its own, with the possibility of this rising to 41% with international support,” the minister added.
She pointed out, however, that with international support Indonesia has a more ambitious scenario through Low Carbon Compatible with Paris Agreement (LCCP).
“By 2030, Indonesia will approach the conditions of being a net absorber of carbon in forestry and other land use activities (FOLU),” she asserted.
In the virtual meeting, COP26 President Sharma was accompanied by UK Environment Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith and UK Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins. Meanwhile, Minister Nurbaya was joined by Vice Minister Alue Dohong along with other top ministry officials.
RELATED STORIES
POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - In a virtual meeting with Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya (Mar 23), COP26 President Alok Sharma referred to Indonesia as a climate superpower.
In response to this statement, Minister Nurbaya told FORESTHINTS.NEWS (Mar 23) she was very optimistic that Indonesia would continue to consistently play a role as a climate superpower at the greatest possible level in efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
Among the various core issues she discussed with the COP26 president were the Indonesia-UK forestry and climate partnership, enhanced climate ambitions, climate change adaptations, and the Indonesia-UK collaboration in preparation for COP26 which will be held in Glasgow next November.
“I expressed my appreciation of the long-running Indonesia-UK partnership as it pertains, among other things, to Indonesia's timber legality assurance system (SVLK) and Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT),” Minister Nurbaya affirmed.
Indonesia's deforestation rate during 2018/2019-2019/2020 reached its lowest level in the country's history, with remaining tropical natural forest cover amounting to 90.1 million hectares, equal to 3.7 times the size of the UK.
The first chart below shows the extent of Indonesia's tropical natural forest cover in 2019/2020. The second chart depicts the country's deforestation rate which dropped dramatically, by 75.03%, during 2018/2019-2019/2020.
As reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS (Mar 19), the UK recently announced new funding of £150 million to protect 2.1 million hectares of tropical rainforests across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Indonesia is one of the countries on the UK’s funding list.
The 2.1 million hectares targeted for protection by this new UK funding initiative are equivalent to 2.3% of Indonesia's total tropical natural forest cover in 2019/2020.
Updated NDC
Minister Nurbaya also elaborated on the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which has added new subjects and strengthened commitments, including by incorporating marine areas and wetlands (mangroves and peatlands).
As for the use of coal, she underlined Indonesia's plan to lower the use of fossil fuels gradually, with a reduction target of up to 60% by 2050.
“We intend to submit Indonesia's second NDC and Long Term Strategy (LTS) in April this year,” she said.
“Indonesia is maintaining its initial ambitious target as stated in the first NDC. That is to reduce emissions by 29% on its own, with the possibility of this rising to 41% with international support,” the minister added.
She pointed out, however, that with international support Indonesia has a more ambitious scenario through Low Carbon Compatible with Paris Agreement (LCCP).
“By 2030, Indonesia will approach the conditions of being a net absorber of carbon in forestry and other land use activities (FOLU),” she asserted.
In the virtual meeting, COP26 President Sharma was accompanied by UK Environment Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith and UK Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins. Meanwhile, Minister Nurbaya was joined by Vice Minister Alue Dohong along with other top ministry officials.
RELATED STORIES
