Download BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR CANCUN The Necessity of a Global

BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR CANCUN
The Necessity of a Global Effort
to Tackle Climate Change
Rachmat Witoelar
President’s Special Envoy for Climate Change /
Executive Chair of National Council on Climate Change,
Indonesia
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BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR CANCUN
The Necessity of Global Effort to Tackle Climate Change
Rachmat Witoelar, President’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Indonesia
Excellencies, distinguished audience, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor and extreme pleasure for me to be standing here before
you, at this auspicious occasion, to present my perspectives on the global
effort to tackle Climate Change.
Allow me to congratulate you and in particular our organizers for hosting this
very important and timely Third International Parliamentary Conference on
Climate Change.
World-wide Threat, Global Approach needed
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is in my view, that by far the biggest threat that the world is facing at
present, is the global phenomenon known as Climate Change. Without
excessively entering into the detailed account of the science, suffice it to say
that new paradigms in National Developments are needed to overcome the
threats of Climate Change. The threats and dangers are often overlooked,
because sceptics would argue that climate has always been changing
throughout history.
Actually the science is definite and unequivocal on matters relating to human
actions contributing to climate change, as reported by the Inter-Governmental
Panel on Climate Change in its Fourth Assessment Report published in 2007.
Clearly, it is actually up to humanity to slow, stop, and reverse the trend
provided that ‘the point of no return’ have not been passed.
In this respect, it is the task of each one of us here to clarify and inform
dangers of climate change to the public. For that purpose, we need to
constantly be aware of the changing times, to adopt and rethink new
approaches in order to accommodate the morphing of new threats as derived
from Climate Change.
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Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished
audience,
Recent studies, including the UK
Government’s releases on Stern Review
in 2007, underline the long-term
nature and global challenge of climate
change. Responding to climate change
should be done through collective
efforts that will not only dampen
current crises, but also help overcome
its longer term impacts.
Figure 1. The Economic Valuation of Climate Change
In doing so, we must go beyond political rhetoric and work together to bridge
gaps between our various positions. We must also draw upon valuable lessons
from previous experiences; of multilateral cooperation and collective moral
responsibility for the greater good.
Adaptation and Mitigation: Two Sides of Actions
Ladies and gentlemen,
The rapidly changing world brings together changing problems and threats,
some of which are unprecedented. To stretch the point further, many
perceived natural disasters often take place due to the lack of human
intervention to foresee and to prevent them.
For the sake of clarity, we can list these crises in specific categories as follows:
 natural happenings such as quakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis;
 human-induced destructions such as flash floods and land destruction by
irresponsible natural resources exploitation;
 human actions resulting in disasters such as deforestration, slash and burn
farming, irresponsible polluting industries and transportation that
ultimately lead to Global Warming and Climate Change.
It is in Indonesia view, that a strategy built on a paradigm of a development
growth that minimizes low carbon emissions, essentially embracing ‘low
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carbon development policies’, would contribute to efforts in tackling climate
change.
We are convinced that in maintaining
a low carbon emission strategy does
not mean adopting an antagonistic
position with economic development.
For that to happen we are adopting
what is called a triple track strategy,
which is pro-job, pro-growth and propoor, under the umbrella of clean
environmental conditions.
Figure 2. A holistic approach to low carbon growth is needed
At this point, maintaining a balance between actions to reduce potential
emission (mitigation) and measures to adapt the changing environment
(adaptation) is essential.
Special studies and improved research into climate change adaptation and
mitigation has proved to be timely and appropriate. At the same time, a
master concept has to be established on what different stakeholders can do to
assist in overcoming climate change threats.
Figure 3. Example in Indonesia: Potential Mitigation Measures and Its Associated Cost
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Towards a global framework in Cancun…
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished audience,
On the global scene, conferences have been held to inform, complement and
make contributions to successful climate change negotiations framed under
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
tracks. Global attention is directed to the future Conference of Parties (COP 16)
in Cancun to reach an agremeent as mandated by the Bali Roadmap.
In these session, participants constantly build on the initial discussions
previously, reiterate that climate change demands immediate action by all
major economies. They agree on the importance of major economies to show
leadership, including that their level of ambition should reflect science and
their robust national actions should contribute to credible long-term emissions
reductions. They also share the view that the transformation to a low-carbon
economy can be an opportunity for growth and sustainable development.
Participants discuss a wide range of issues, including the readiness and
capacity of economies to undertake actions and to raise the global level of
ambition, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities
and respective capabilities.
In this regard, I believe that developed countries must show more leadership
through strong commitments in two areas: deep cuts in emissions and
provision of sustained, predictable, and substantially scaled‐up financing for
mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.
In response, developing countries need to build on the mitigation actions they
are already undertaking and commit to act further with financial support.
In this respect Indonesia is proud to commit itself to cut emissions 26 % (BAU)
as a voluntary effort in contributing the world’s effort to combat climate
change.
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As Copenhagen failed to reach a
consensus, it is greatly expected that
COP 16 in Mexico can finally settle
the elusive global task, that is,
parties to agree on a legally binding
agreement and to fight the threat of
climate change in a joint effort.
Figure 4. Indonesia’s statements at COP 15, UNFCCC in Copenhagen
… we need to work together, the lessons of Bali Conference
Ladies and gentlemen,
Such efforts cannot succeed without collaboration and synergy of all Parties
involved. The magnitude of the climate challenge goes further beyond the
capacity of particular countries. No single country on its own will be able to
cope with the dangerous impact of climate change or to prevent the increasing
of potential emissions. Hence it is important to deliver a genuine partnership
among countries and relevant stakeholders.
Indonesia is proud to be recognized for its efforts in staging the COP 13 (2007)
in Bali, where the world has agreed to a legally binding agreement that
provides tracks to secure the climate future, known as the Bali Road Map. A
two-year negotiation target was set, aiming at a new legally binding decision
could be finally concluded in Copenhagen as mandated under the Bali Road
Map.
But let me remind you that the creation of Bali Road Map was not an overnight
effort, in particular for its nature as a new approach on enhancing
implementation of the Convention. I believe that the inclusion of all Parties in
the process, by creating platforms to discuss before and within the Session,
was a critical and integral part of the Decision.
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… we need to build confidence and trust in
each other
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world has to wait for some more time,
as the COP 15 of the UNFCCC in Copenhagen
did not manage to gain a world’s
consensensus.
In this regard, the world leaders need to
continue their endeavors and build on the
existing Copenhagen Accord. All parties
have differing but at the same time, similar
observations of what transpired in
Copenhagen.
Figure 5. World leaders in Copenhagen
Nevertheless, despite the range of views about what Copenhagen Accord was
all about, one message was clear, that we must and have to build the
momentum ahead. We need to continue the constructive works toward
Cancun by the end of this year.
I would also like to underline the urgency to address the trust deficit by
building an open, transparent and inclusive process so we can have the
requisite conducive environment to achieve significant and workable decision
in Cancun.
REDD+ , a perspective of collaboration approaches
For Indonesia, the forest is key asset that plays an important role in its national
development; hence the preservation of this particular asset is always one of
our main focuses. Indonesia manages its forest resources based on the
principle of sustainable management of forest which in the context of climate
change is part of the global effort, namely Reduction Emission from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus (REDD-plus).
REDD-plus is among the issues that had progressed significantly during the
COP15 in Copenhagen. However, we also recognize that there some crucial
issues that are still pending, such on whether the approach would be national
and/or sub-national, what definition used as ‘forests’ and the financing
mechanism. Such issues will not be solved without some flexibility by countries
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to allow consideration of national circumstances, which varies quite
significantly.
In this respect, I am of the view that, while negotiation on the establishment
of REDD-plus mechanism under the (UNFCCC) is underway, initiatives on
collaboration among parties outside the forum could provide an interim
platform for fast-start implementation of REDD-plus actions. Such initiatives
could scale up financing from developed countries to help developing
countries in improving their effectiveness of REDD-plus actions. It should also
feeding back into the UNFCCC process and to facilitate agreement on REDDplus mechanism at COP-16.
DO what YOU can DO, don’t wait for the
world to do it for you
Ladies and gentlemen,
In closing, allow me to reiterate that it has
been a privilege to present my thoughts on
how a global effort is a necessity to
address one of the gravest dangers, if not
the biggest threat today, that is the threat
of Climate Change to this rapidly changing
world.
Figure 6. Heart of Borneo, Indonesia
I am convinced that this forum, under the auspices of the International
Parliamentary Forum, is the best place to discuss how global efforts can be
delivered. I believe that through this forum we can inspire ourselves to work
together
Thank you for your attention and I wish you the best for the Conference.
London, July 2010
Rachmat Witoelar
President’s Special Envoy on Climate Change /
Executive Chair of the Indonesia’s National Council on Climate Change
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