NGO urges government to take lead in UN climate parley

JAKARTA (JP): Environmentalists called on the government yesterday to lead the campaign to reduce world greenhouse gas emissions in the United Nations meeting on climate change next week in Kyoto, Japan.

The Indonesian Climate Action Network, I-CAN, said that as a country which would be chairing the G-77 group of developing nations next year, the Indonesian government must "speak out" for the sake of the people during the 10-day meeting.

"Indonesia and the other developing countries must take a no- bargain position before industrial countries (campaign) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," I-CAN spokesman Anung Karyadi told journalists here.

Indonesia should be aware of industrial countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia which would "try out any concept possible" to avoid limiting their greenhouse gas emissions.

Anung cited "emissions trading" or ways the developed countries avoided the obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including providing loans to developing countries to "help" them reduce their gas emissions, he said.

"This is of course cheating, because industrial countries are the ones most responsible for the world's greenhouse gas emissions," Anung said.

Greenhouse gases -- mainly carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide -- are caused by the burning of fossil fuels used mostly in industrial countries.

The gases are also believed to contribute to a warming of the global climate, which would lead to rising sea levels causing many islands to disappear.

Anung said the government must fight for the reduction of gas emissions by 20 percent by 2005, as demanded by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

"Our country will lose many islands ... should we fail to force the developed countries' commitment on this," he said.

He said that even with "the best scenario" -- if the gas emissions level was kept to that which existed in 1990 -- sea levels would still rise by one meter.

Many observers have predicted that the Kyoto meeting would likely end up with a watered-down compromise because of the differences between the United States and European Union countries.

The European Union wants greenhouse gases cut by 15 percent by 2010 while the United States says they should be reduced to 1990 levels.

The United States is by far the biggest producer of the gases, accounting for about 25 percent of world output.

Environmentalists have expressed concern that the Kyoto meeting will end in an impasse. (aan)