Indonesia preparing proposals for Copenhagen climate talks

JAKARTA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government begun drawing up proposals for the climate talks in Copenhagen on Dec.7-18, amid global fears the conference will fail to agree on a binding treaty on emissions cuts, a paper reported here Thursday.

Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono said after meeting with officials from the State Environment Ministry and the National Council on Climate Change (DNPI) that Indonesia would work hard to make the talks a success.

"Indonesia is in a good position to make the Copenhagen talks successful," he was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying, unaware that the country is the world's third-biggest CO2 emitter.

At climate talks in Barcelona earlier this month, Indonesia proposed that the Copenhagen talks endorse a "temporary accord" if they fail to agree on a new binding treaty.

"We've proposed a submission for a possible agreed outcome in Copenhagen as a way out of the expected deadlock," chairman of the DNPI Rahmat Witoelar said.

The chairman said that the "umbrella decision" would comprise a global target for emissions cuts pending an international agreement to be made before June 2010.

Asked whether the proposal highlighted the Indonesian delegation's failure to bring the Bali Road Map to Copenhagen, Rachmat said, "No, we need to have an agreement."

The road map requires countries to agree on a new treaty on emissions cuts to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

The protocol requires developed nations to cut emissions by about 5 percent from 1990 levels to help slow global warming.

Rachmat, who headed the Indonesian delegation in Barcelona last week, said Indonesia would still stand to gain financial benefits even if the Copenhagen talks failed to agree on binding emissions cut targets.

Indonesia has announced a 20 percent emissions cut target by 2020, adding it could strive for a 41 percent reduction if developed nations provided financial assistance.

Rachmat, the former environment minister, said hopes for success at Copenhagen now rested on the presence of heads of state such as U.S. President Barack Obama.