Funds sought for fighting effects of global warming
Funds sought for fighting effects of global warming
JAKARTA (JP): While observing serious threats of global
warming here, experts on Monday called for the importance of
foreign assistance in financing rehabilitation projects on the
adverse effects of global climatic changes.
Agroclimatologist from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture
(IPB) Rizaldi Boer said there was actually a nonlimited budget
provided by an international agency, the Global Environment
Facility (GEF), to finance projects of anticipating or
rehabilitating the effect of global climatic changes.
"But, unfortunately the GEF funds are difficult to obtain as
the funding countries seem reluctant to disburse them.
"The mechanism is complicated. There are so many criterions
that we have to fulfill. It's very frustrating," Rizaldi, who was
once a consultant for GEF, said.
"But, as long as we can prove that the environmental damage
was caused by global climatic changes, we can propose for the
fund," he said on the sidelines of a seminar.
He cited that the GEF funds, which is contributed by developed
or industrialized countries, are worth million of dollars.
"The GEF funds are given in respect of the fact that developed
countries contribute 75 percent of the total global carbon
dioxide emission, while the developing countries bear the
effect," he said.
Separately on Monday, Deputy Environment Minister for
Environmental Management Daniel Murdiarso said the GEF had
promised the Ministry of Environment over US$300,000 a few years
ago, but the funds had yet to be disbursed.
"The mechanism of the fund disbursement is handled by the
developed countries. We want it simplified so that we can receive
the funds faster and more easily," Daniel told reporters.
"Ministries which are related to problems caused by climatic
changes are themselves not familiar with GEF or its funds,"
Rizaldi said. This, he added, also contributed to the problem.
He also cited the inability of the Indonesian institutions to
make good and strong proposals for the GEF fund disbursement.
"China and Malaysia could secure the GEF funds because they
had made good and feasible proposals," Rizaldi cited.
In China, he said, the government held regular meetings with
related institutions to gather ideas and suggestions.
"But, China has also been pressuring GEF," he added.
"While over here, two institutions have made two separate
proposals on the same issue. They have refused to work together
to submit a single proposal," Rizaldi said without elaborating.
"Therefore, we have to strengthen coordination among
government institutions." (hdn)