REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PARIS -- The Indonesian government is involving several informal negotiators, including diplomats and religious figures, to help it achieve a legally binding international agreement on emission reduction at the 21st UN Climate Change Conference in Paris.
Presidential Special Envoy for Climate Change Rachmat Witoelar said on the second day of negotiations in Paris on Wednesday that the informal negotiators play an important role in pushing other countries to accept Indonesia's concept of climate change mitigation and funding scheme.
The non-formal negotiators include former foreign minister Hasan Wirajuda, Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Djauhari Oratmangun and member of the Steering Board of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Din Syamsuddin.
"They have (good) experience and strong networks. Pak (Mr.) Hasan Wirajuda and Pak Din Syamsuddin have such skills," he said.
The informal negotiators, along with some 60 formal negotiators of Indonesia, will work till this weekend to achieve what the country intends to at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP), he said.
As of now, Indonesia is still committed to preventing average global temperature from increasing 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average temperature, he said.
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Member of MUI Advisory Board Din Syamsuddin had earlier said the commitments of the heads of government will become a deciding factor for the planet's future.
"At this moment, there has been neither tranquility nor war as a result of environmental destruction," he said.
He said all parties must try to stop environmental destruction and overcome climate change.
Indonesia belongs to top 10 most polluting countries and the rating will fearfully increase in the wake of the haze disaster following land and forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, he said.
"But the government has committed itself to carry out mitigation activities, including in the forest and land management sector through peat ecosystem restoration and moratorium on the issuance of permits to use peat ecosystem," he said.
Addressing the Leaders Event at Le Bourget, Paris, on Monday (Nov 30), Indonesian President Joko Widodo reiterated Indonesia's commitment to reduce gas emissions by 29 percent in 2030 and by 41 percent with international assistance.
To achieve an agreement in Paris, he said, all parties must contribute towards mitigation and adaptation efforts.
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