House ratifies Kyoto Protocol

House ratifies Kyoto Protocol

A. Junaidi, Jakarta

The House of Representatives ratified on Monday the Kyoto
Protocol as part of the country's efforts to reduce green house
gasses (GHGs) as well as to attract investment and financial
assistance from developed countries.

"Developing countries, including Indonesia, have no obligation
to reduce GHGs. But the Kyoto Protocol gives opportunities to the
country," State Minister for the Environment Nabiel Makarim said
in his speech after the House passed the bill.

Among the opportunities are the transfer of technology on low
emissions and investment and financial assistance from developed
countries, which have the obligation to help developing countries
adapt to the impacts of climatic changes.

Nabiel said the opportunities for the developing countries and
the obligation for the developed countries were in line with the
principle of the Kyoto Protocol: "Common but differentiated
responsibilities".

"There will be no negative consequences at all, but we will
benefit from the assistance from developed countries," Nabiel
said.

He said the protocol would not affect the recently issued
government regulation in lieu of law which permits 13 mining
firms to operate in protected forests across the country.

"The protocol cannot apply retroactively. I think the permit
for 13 mining firms is a 'historical mistake' which we have to
respect," Nabiel said.

During a plenary session on Monday. the House unanimously
approved the bill on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol,
urging President Megawati to sign the bill into law as soon as
possible.

By ratifying the protocol, Indonesia will join 123 other
countries that have adopted the international treaty. But,
Indonesia's ratification may have little impact on global warming
since major countries, such as the United States, which
contribute to most of GHGs in the world, have not agreed to
ratify the protocol.

The United Development Party faction spokesperson Aisyah Amini
said her faction hoped the country could benefit from the
ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.

"Since the country is still suffering from the economic
crisis, we should take any opportunity to raise funds for the
country's development," Aisyah told the plenary session.

The protocol regulates three mechanisms for countries to work
together to reduce the GHG levels. One is a joint implementation
among advanced countries, the second is a clean development
mechanism (CDM) between advanced and developing countries, while
the third is emission trading among advanced countries.

Indonesia could participate in the reduction of GHG emissions
via the CDM.

The CDM is a financing scheme where advanced countries invest
in developing countries to reduce GHG levels as those developed
countries are unable to reduce them further in their own
countries.

Among the CDM projects are clean energy power plants and
reforestation programs.