Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono issued a decree cementing his 2009 commitment to reducing his country’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a statement from the President’s office.
“This is our attempt to follow-up Bali Action Plan as agreed in the UNFCCC COP 13, while meeting Indonesia’s voluntary commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 26% or up to 41% with international support by 2020. In order to do so, we conduct national action to reduce GHG emissions”, said Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam in a press release.
The decree establishes an “action plan” to provide guidance to ministries and local governments on how to develop and implement low carbon development activities. Given that more than two-thirds of Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions result from deforestation and degradation of forests and peatlands, the decree will effectively require local governments to take steps to better protect and manage natural resources.
President Yudhoyono committed to reducing Indonesia’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 41 percent from a business-as-usual baseline by 2020 during a 2009 G20 meeting in Pittsburg, PA. Since then, Norway has pledged up to $1 billion to help Indonesia reduce deforestation and degradation, while Indonesia has announced a two-year moratorium on issuing new concessions in primary forests and peatlands.
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