Engulfed in flames, Indonesia must curb deforestation to limit its emissions
Housing the world’s fourth largest population and being one of the top ten greenhouse gas emitters, due largely to deforestation and destruction of carbon-rich peatlands, Indonesia is a key player in the COP21 climate negotiations. The country is also home to significant natural carbon sinks and high levels of biodiversity, both of which are important to maintain. Negotiating with the G77 and China, Indonesia’s stances align well with other developing countries, pushing for increased climate financing and support from developed nations and maintenance of “common but differentiated responsibilities” among nations in attempts to balance its own carbon emissions and economic development. This is evident in its INDC, which pledges an unconditional reduction of greenhouse gases of 29% below business as usual by 2030 without international support and a conditional 41% reduction by 2030 with support.
Climate Action Tracker rated Indonesia’s INDC as “inadequate,” primarily due to the lack of quantitative descriptions of reductions in various sectors, especially with regard to land-use, land-use change, and forestry. They found that government-reported deforestation data indicated leveling-off of deforestation-related emissions, while an independent study from Margono et al. showed a steady increase in deforested area in the last decade. Furthermore, the INDC did not specify the execution of a 23% renewable energy generation commitment by 2025, but Enerdata did report on the development of new coal-fired power plants, which would only increase Indonesia’s dependence on this emission-intensive energy source.
Recent forest fires resulting from the “slash-and-burn” method of clearing land for agriculture and the El Niño dry season highlights the importance of Indonesia’s responsibility to combat climate change. According to the World Resource Institute, the greenhouse gas emissions from the fires exceeded that of the average emissions from the entire US economy for over 25 days in September and October. Taken as a whole, the total emissions from the fires have surpassed that of the 2013 emissions of Japan, reports the Washington Post.
Although the government placed a moratorium on new licenses for converting forests and peatlands, Margono et al. found that 40% of forest land lost in 2000–2012 were in protected areas. In order to effect serious change in preserving key lands, Indonesia must create clear policies for forest and peatland protection and ramp up its enforcement of such laws.
As the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia is also incredibly susceptible to the negative effects of climate change, which should give the country even more reason to improve its emissions reduction targets. Not only does a majority of its population live in coastal regions at risk from rising oceans, but it is also highly vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate-induced natural disasters. Its INDC acknowledges these risks and adds that much of the population that will be most effected will be poorer, marginalized communities. On a more positive note, the INDC includes working with indigenous populations and using their “traditional wisdom” as solutions for preserving forests and peatlands while engaging these often overlooked stakeholders. This idea was echoed in Paris last week when indigenous leaders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America showcased a Woods Hole study, which found that in regions studied, 20.1% of aboveground carbon storage exists in indigenous lands, and implored that their people can be part of the solution if given support and rights to these lands by their governments. For the world’s sake, let’s hope that Indonesia can adopt this idea of “social forestry” into a comprehensive policy to protect its land.
