With the release of CO2 in to the atmosphere through deforestation responsible for 20% of global greenhouse pollution and recognised as practically the single largest contributor to global warming, Indonesia is recognised as the World’s largest greenhouse gas polluter through deforestation.
High levels of press exposure highlighting illegal deforestation in Indonesia for the purpose of Palm Oil plantations, which are also sideling potential food crops, Indonesia is under pressure to act fast. With over a billion tons of CO2 emissions from its forests and peatlands, Indonesia has pre-empted the UNFCC’s decision and officially issued national regulations on REDD allowing forest stakeholders, be they private organisations, local authorities or indigenous people, can all acquire REDD permits for projects that prove they prevent CO2 otherwise entering the atmosphere. More recently at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pledged to voluntarily cut Indonesia’s carbon emissions by 26 percent by 2020 using the state budget, the first developing nation to do so.
Reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation, or “REDD” as it is known, is one of the most crucial topics to be addressed by the UN in Copenhagen this December. It is widely accepted by experts that limiting the rise in global temperature to 2˚C above pre-industrial levels (the level at which widespread ecosystem breakdown is forecast) will be almost impossible without REDD.
Once the International Panel on Climate Change present their findings in Copenhagen to the World governments it is hoped that necessary financial mechanisms will be implemented that correctly incentivise 3rd World governments such as Indonesia to not only protect existing rainforest but replant new forests. Only then will the Kyoto Protocol’s effective successor have taken the crucial action in attempting to mitigate climate change.
By planting 33.2 million hectares of trees and undertaking REDD programs, Indonesia could slash about 15 percent of its emissions and cut a further nine percent of its emissions by reducing forest fires in peat lands by 75 percent.
Should a large percentage of Indonesia’s current deforestation be prevented, and if REDD is accepted in to Kyoto’s existing CDM system, then the potential carbon credit trading value for Indonesia will run in to US$ bns. We only hope that in Copenhagen this winter the World’s governments can reach an agreement for this vital solution to global climate change, and financially motivate everyone to protect their forests.
Source: Communities to get paid through REDD & Indonesia first volunteer to emission cuts
Category : Forestry