RI TAKES OUT THE SILVER MEDAL IN ASIAN CLIMATE POLICIES

Adianto P. Simamora and Stevie Emilia
THE JAKARTA POST/COPENHAGEN

Indonesias emissions reduction policies are ranked second best among Asian countries, behind India, a study shows. A study on the ""climate change performance index"", jointly made by Germanwatch and Climate, Action Network (CAN) Europe, praised commitments to climate policies by the emerging nations Mexico, South Africa, China and Indonesia to slash emissions.

""We see positive improvements on policies related to the climate change in Indonesia, but the country still can do more to cut emissions,"" Jan Burg, senior adviser at German Watch said on Monday.The study analyzed 12 indicators of emissions trends, emissions levels and government policies to cut emissions. The study did not publish the total current emissions of the surveyed countries.Neither did the study count emissions from forestry, believed to be the primary contributor to Indonesias carbon emissions.

""We dont have enough data on the emissions from forests but we hope to put it as criteria in next years performance,"" Burg said.The study said Brazil - the worlds largest forest nation - was the biggest mover in the ranks, moving up to 5h and leapfrogging the United Kingdom, Hungary, Iceland and Mexico, the last two of which dropped a massive 10 places each in the rankings.

""It is great to see emerging economies like Brazil moving up the rankings, sending clear signals that they are more and more committed to combating climate change,"" director of CAN Europe, Matthias Duwe, said. ""I only wish more EU countries were showing the same commitment to positive changes.""Out of 60 countries responsible for more than 90 percent of the annual global emissions analyzed in the study, no nation took the first three places.

Duwe said the ranking showed all countries still lack political will to avoid severe impacts of climate change. The United States was ranked 53 after China, both deemed as the worlds largest emitters. This years bottom-of-the barrel finisher went to Canada and Saudi Arabia.""It is because Canadas government delays the announcement of any major new climate policies,"" Duwe said.The study was launched as negotiators from rich and developing countries were still debating how to cut emissions to protect the planet.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has promised to cut emissions by 26 percent by 2020, 41 percent if developed nations provide financial incentives.Under the scenario, Indonesia would cut about 700 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from forestry, energy and waste management, all of which is to be financed by state budget.Yudhoyono issued the 2006 presidential decree on national energy stating that by 2025, renewable energies - biofuels, geothermal, nuclear and liquid coal - should make up at least 17 percent of all the national energy used.