Sarwono slams U.S. over Rio Declaration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The U.S. and other wealthy countries have been
\nslack about implementing the 1992 Rio Declaration on environment,
\nState Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The world has yet to see the United States (U.S.) lead in the
\nimplementation of the declaration although Washington is in fact
\nthe most responsible power in preserving the environment,\"
\nSarwono said.<\/p>\n
He made the remarks in his keynote speech at the Country
\nAssessment for the Implementation of the Rio Declaration workshop
\nheld by the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi).<\/p>\n
Sarwono explained there were only a few countries which had
\ndemonstrated strong commitment towards the declaration, including
\nthe less influential Scandinavian states.<\/p>\n
\"The U.S. as the leading state in economy, technology and
\npolitics pitifully does not have the commitment needed. The U.S.
\nCongress has not yet even ratified the Convention on Climate
\nChange.\"<\/p>\n
Sarwono said one major commitment which has not been fulfilled
\nwas the developed nations' promise to give 0.7 percent of their
\ngross national product to developing countries for environmental
\nprograms.<\/p>\n
Several countries said they were reluctant to give assistance
\nfor fear the money would fall into the hands of corrupt
\nofficials, he said.<\/p>\n
In June 1992 the UN sponsored the Conference on Environment
\nand Development, better known as the Earth Summit, in Rio de
\nJaneiro, Brazil. It was attended by 107 heads of state and
\ngovernment, including President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The summit produced provisions to acknowledge the importance
\nof preserving the environment in the world's rapid development.
\nThe provisions were statuted in the 27-point Rio Declaration and
\nthe 115-agreement Agenda 21 which covered issues like biological
\nbio-diversity, climate change, sustainable development and
\nforestry.<\/p>\n
Although it has been more than four years since the world
\nleaders signed the declaration, in most countries not all of the
\nitems have been ratified into the national law. Indonesia has
\nratified several parts of the declaration such as the convention
\non climate change and the convention on biological bio-diversity
\nbut has fallen short on issues like forestry.<\/p>\n
Reports note the world's environmental problems have worsened.
\nThe Washington-based Worldwatch Institution has reported \"vast
\nareas of forest have been stripped and annual emissions of
\ncarbon-dioxide from fossil fuels have climbed to all-time highs,
\naltering the very composition of the atmosphere\".<\/p>\n
Indonesia with U.S., Germany, Japan and China are countries
\nclassified by think-tanks as \"countries that should play a bigger
\nrole in bridging differences between the industrialized nations
\nand the developing nations\".<\/p>\n
Sarwono also charged the Indonesian business sector with
\ncaring about environmental concerns only when they can profit by
\nit.<\/p>\n
\"The private sector's commitment has grown over the past five
\nyears but they only heed short term requirements that actually
\ngive them benefits.\" (36)<\/p>",
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