Jakarta stands to benefit from Kyoto Protocol

Damar Harsanto and Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Think globally, act locally. That's what environmentalists often say when inviting the public to join campaigns to save the planet from the consequences of the greenhouse effect.

But after Indonesia ratified the Kyoto Protocol last year, people might well change the phrase to: act locally and profit financially.

"Although the guidelines for the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol are still being worked on by the State Ministry for the Environment, Jakarta residents can contribute substantially to the program," head of the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) Kosasih Wirahadikusumah told The Jakarta Post.

Kosasih cited automaker Honda Prospect Motor, which in mid- July this year planted 1,000 trees along the banks of the Banglio River in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

"Apparently, the Japanese government, which also ratified the Kyoto Protocol, has provided guidelines for Japanese companies outside Japan to abide by the obligations agreed upon in the protocol," he said.

"Other companies can follow suit," he said.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, signatories are obliged to cut the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 percent between 2008 and 2012. Countries that cannot reduce gas emissions may buy "gas emission quotas" from developing countries by financing gas emission reduction projects there.

It also stipulates that companies could sell their reduction emission programs to developed countries that cannot afford to reduce their gas emissions themselves. For each ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, firms can earn between US$1.50 and $5.50.

Jakarta could benefit from the protocol by planting more trees in order to keep its gas emissions low, which could then be sold to countries that have high gas emissions.

Concurring with Kosasih, environmental activist Ahmad Safruddin said that aside from companies, residents could also take part in the program by joining replanting projects in the city.

"By planting more trees in the capital we will not only reduce the carbon dioxide in the air, but also freshen the city's heavily polluted air since trees can absorb gas pollutants and neutralize them through its metabolism," Safruddin said.

As part of efforts to attain its target of developing a total of 9,156 hectares, or 13.94 percent, of Jakarta's area for open and green spaces by 2010, the administration has launched a project early this year where residents are invited to plant their yards with fruit trees. The administration provides the trees for free. Unfortunately, little progress has been made so far due to a lack of publicity for the program.

However, Kosasih said that the Kyoto Protocol, which became operational two weeks ago, also includes other issues pertaining to measures to maintain natural resources, including the use of environmentally friendly technology.

"We have recommended that institutions located along coastline in North Jakarta look into the treatment of seawater into potable water through membrane filtration by using reverse osmosis techniques to desalinate seawater," Kosasih said.

He said that in the past the technology was quite expensive, but now it was relatively more affordable.

"With more countries becoming producers of membranes used in water purification, including the United States, China, Canada, France and Britain, the price of membranes have become cheaper," he said.

He claimed that the use of such environmentally friendly technology would bring high credit points under the Kyoto Protocol since it would also end the dependence on the use of tap water or ground water.

He said that some institutions, including the operator of Nusantara Bonded Zone, City Housing Agency, state port operator Pelindo II, Pantai Indah Kapuk housing estate and Ancol Dreamland Park, had expressed their interest in adopting the technology.