POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya says that her ongoing efforts to trace patterns of collaboration among a number of carbon projects in which local governments are engaged are aimed at ensuring that the national greenhouse gas inventory remains within the corridor of legality.
Local governments are legally required to report the greenhouse gas inventory in each of their territories to the minister in her capacity as the country’s national focal point to the UNFCCC.
“Efforts to trace carbon projects in which local governments are engaged are intended to make sure that the national greenhouse gas inventory is carried out in stages and within the corridor of legality,” Minister Nurbaya explained in a virtual meeting on the national greenhouse gas inventory (Jul 15).
She stressed that those local governments engaged in carbon projects are obliged to immediately report to her as well as to the Minister of Home Affairs primarily on the legal basis for their engagement with carbon projects in their territories.
In addition, Minister Nurbaya pointed out that the local governments engaged in carbon projects are also to report on the policy measures and actions they are undertaking, the extent of their management area, the scope of their policies and activities, their projected methodologies and measures, and the targets achieved or expected to be achieved.
“One of the carbon projects in which a local government is engaged is in Banyuwangi regency (East Java province). I have asked the Regent of Banyuwangi to report on this initiative to me and the Minister of Home Affairs” she said.
Essentially, all carbon projects in Indonesia have to go through the appropriate legal procedures and are not permitted to leave the corridor of legality,” she added.
Minister Nurbaya also emphasized that it is essential for legally-based methodologies to be used as such methodologies are directly linked to landscape analyses involving physical, socio-economic and ecological aspects on the ground level. These influence each other in a parallel and integrated manner and determine projected results.
“The methodologies used in the context of greenhouse gas inventories are an important factor. Basically, don't move out of the legal corridor,” she said forcefully.
As previously reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS (Jul 9), Minister Nurbaya has also moved to cancel self-carbon projects involving international entities, including a joint collaboration between an international conservation organization and a global corporate giant, so as to avoid any illegalities arising from their carbon projects.
Indonesia has set a forestry and land use neutrality target for 2030 using clear and reachable measures, as shown in the following chart. This target was explained by Minister Nurbaya, on behalf of President Joko Widodo, in her meeting with COP26 President Alok Sharma at the ministerial complex in late May this year.
No compromises
According to Minister Nurbaya, she is continuing to observe developments related to the steps and efforts undertaken by a number of local governments engaged in carbon projects involving international entities.
"Legally, carbon projects must be in coordination based on measurable legal procedures, both at the local and national government level. Indonesia, as a responsible and accountable nation, has established an NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) target that needs to be prioritized in order to be achieved as a nation," she said.
She added that that by constantly referring to the NDC target, Indonesia can avoid the double counting of greenhouse gases and maintain its NDC integrity from individual carbon projects operating outside the legal corridor.
“We will meet our NDC target as a nation, not as an individual province or district. International entities that engage local governments in carbon projects have also got to understand these legal procedures,” she affirmed.
Minister Nurbaya cautioned that carbon projects should not be looked at as projects that serve as a source of business, because Indonesia has to prioritize meeting its own NDC target.
“I often underline that as a nation, we should not be tempted and distracted by carbon projects that do not prioritize the achievement of our NDC target,” she asserted.
“I can assure you that I will not compromise with anyone who tries to interfere with Indonesia in meeting its NDC target, including and especially with carbon projects carried out illegally and without proper procedures,” she warned.
Minister Nurbaya reiterated that the sole direction of President Joko Widodo is to prioritize Indonesia meeting its own NDC target as a nation, and to ensure that this happens.
“The President’s order is clear, and as Indonesia's focal point to the UNFCCC, I am proceeding to work to ensure Indonesia stays on track towards meeting its NDC target as a nation,” she said to conclude the virtual meeting.
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POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya says that her ongoing efforts to trace patterns of collaboration among a number of carbon projects in which local governments are engaged are aimed at ensuring that the national greenhouse gas inventory remains within the corridor of legality.
Local governments are legally required to report the greenhouse gas inventory in each of their territories to the minister in her capacity as the country’s national focal point to the UNFCCC.
“Efforts to trace carbon projects in which local governments are engaged are intended to make sure that the national greenhouse gas inventory is carried out in stages and within the corridor of legality,” Minister Nurbaya explained in a virtual meeting on the national greenhouse gas inventory (Jul 15).
She stressed that those local governments engaged in carbon projects are obliged to immediately report to her as well as to the Minister of Home Affairs primarily on the legal basis for their engagement with carbon projects in their territories.
In addition, Minister Nurbaya pointed out that the local governments engaged in carbon projects are also to report on the policy measures and actions they are undertaking, the extent of their management area, the scope of their policies and activities, their projected methodologies and measures, and the targets achieved or expected to be achieved.
“One of the carbon projects in which a local government is engaged is in Banyuwangi regency (East Java province). I have asked the Regent of Banyuwangi to report on this initiative to me and the Minister of Home Affairs” she said.
Essentially, all carbon projects in Indonesia have to go through the appropriate legal procedures and are not permitted to leave the corridor of legality,” she added.
Minister Nurbaya also emphasized that it is essential for legally-based methodologies to be used as such methodologies are directly linked to landscape analyses involving physical, socio-economic and ecological aspects on the ground level. These influence each other in a parallel and integrated manner and determine projected results.
“The methodologies used in the context of greenhouse gas inventories are an important factor. Basically, don't move out of the legal corridor,” she said forcefully.
As previously reported by FORESTHINTS.NEWS (Jul 9), Minister Nurbaya has also moved to cancel self-carbon projects involving international entities, including a joint collaboration between an international conservation organization and a global corporate giant, so as to avoid any illegalities arising from their carbon projects.
Indonesia has set a forestry and land use neutrality target for 2030 using clear and reachable measures, as shown in the following chart. This target was explained by Minister Nurbaya, on behalf of President Joko Widodo, in her meeting with COP26 President Alok Sharma at the ministerial complex in late May this year.
No compromises
According to Minister Nurbaya, she is continuing to observe developments related to the steps and efforts undertaken by a number of local governments engaged in carbon projects involving international entities.
"Legally, carbon projects must be in coordination based on measurable legal procedures, both at the local and national government level. Indonesia, as a responsible and accountable nation, has established an NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) target that needs to be prioritized in order to be achieved as a nation," she said.
She added that that by constantly referring to the NDC target, Indonesia can avoid the double counting of greenhouse gases and maintain its NDC integrity from individual carbon projects operating outside the legal corridor.
“We will meet our NDC target as a nation, not as an individual province or district. International entities that engage local governments in carbon projects have also got to understand these legal procedures,” she affirmed.
Minister Nurbaya cautioned that carbon projects should not be looked at as projects that serve as a source of business, because Indonesia has to prioritize meeting its own NDC target.
“I often underline that as a nation, we should not be tempted and distracted by carbon projects that do not prioritize the achievement of our NDC target,” she asserted.
“I can assure you that I will not compromise with anyone who tries to interfere with Indonesia in meeting its NDC target, including and especially with carbon projects carried out illegally and without proper procedures,” she warned.
Minister Nurbaya reiterated that the sole direction of President Joko Widodo is to prioritize Indonesia meeting its own NDC target as a nation, and to ensure that this happens.
“The President’s order is clear, and as Indonesia's focal point to the UNFCCC, I am proceeding to work to ensure Indonesia stays on track towards meeting its NDC target as a nation,” she said to conclude the virtual meeting.
RELATED STORIES
