Adianto P. Simamora

JAKARTA-Indonesian delegates to the Barcelona climate change meeting tabled a proposal for the upcoming Copenhagen talks to endorse a ""temporary accord"" to prevent possible deadlock on a binding target.

This proposal was made while President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reaffirmed his commitment to push rich nations to agree a new legally binding target as mandated by the Bali road map agreed in the much-praised climate conference that took place in Bali in 2007.

The Bali road map stipulated that countries should have to agree with a legally binding emissions target to be adopted in 2009 during the Copenhagen conference.

Senior advisor to Indonesian delegates in Barcelona, Eddy Pratomo said Indonesia has set up bilateral meetings with negotiators from key countries to seek solutions on the anticipated possible deadlock in the Copenhagen conference set to be held from Dec. 7 to 18.

He said that Indonesia proposed the Copenhagen summit should make an ""umbrella agreement"" comprising a global target on emission cuts for the long term, while awaiting an international agreement to be made before June 2010.

""The Indonesian proposal was aimed to bridge differences and would be discussed further during the Copenhagen talks,"" Eddy, who is now also Indonesian Ambassador to Germany, said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.

""One thing is for sure, Indonesias proposal stressing ""an umbrella agreement"" must be endorsed in one package along with the emissions cuts [proposed] for rich nations in the context of the Kyoto Protocol.""

In Jakarta, presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said Yudhoyono was actively considering going to Copenhagen to attend the conference in December.

""As a strong proponent of the Bali road map, and a member of the troika, President SBY is very keen to help ensure the success of Copenhagen climate conference,"" Dino told the Post, referring Yudhoyono with his popular acronym.

State Minister for the Environment Gusti Muhammad Hatta in a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission VII on environmental affairs said that Indonesia would propose a ""Copenhagen commitment"" to be endorsed if the Copenhagen conference would otherwise end with deadlock.

Hatta said the ""Copenhagen Commitment"" would be based on rich nations commitments on emissions cuts and implementation of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The Barcelona meeting ended Friday with little progress towards a deal on emission cuts but narrowed the options on helping poorer [countries] to adapt to climate change, sharing technologi and to cut emissions from deforestation.

Meanwhile, WWF program director for climate and energy, Fi-trian Adriansyah said that Indonesia should push the success of the Bali road map for a legally binding target on emission cuts to help the planet.

""Dont down play such expectations; we must still hope for strong and ambitious outputs in the Copenhagen talks,"" he told the Post.

""Indonesia must safeguard the Bali road map by continuing to push the rich nations for a legally binding treaty on emissions cuts. We must struggle for it until the ""last breath.""

He said high level meetings such as the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Singapore could be used to push for Copenhagen to agree a binding target

Environment ministers from some 40 countries are scheduled to meet in Copenhagen for an informal planning session for the UN climate talks on Nov. 16 to 17.

Civil Society Forum coordinator, Giorgio Indarto was concerned at lack of progress in Barcelona.

""We are just waiting for a miracle to make Copenhagen successful,"" he told the Post.

He urged the Indonesia delegates to lead on talks about adaptation programs in Copenhagen since climate change had impacted people in Indonesia.

""Indonesia is not a hero; we are victims thats why Indonesian delegates should focus on how rich nations can help developing countries in adapting to climate change,"" he said.

The Copenhagen conference is expected to result in binding emission cuts, replacing the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012.