Media Release
5 June 2009
World Environment Day Highlights Australia and Indonesia’s Commitment to Address Climate Change
On World Environment Day Australia and Indonesia are continuing to work together to address climate change, a critical issue for the Asia Pacific region.
Addressing environmental and climate change challenges is central to the poverty reduction efforts of Australia’s development assistance program, including in Indonesia.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer said Australia has committed significant resources to combat the effects of climate change globally and in our region.
“Without protecting natural systems, there is a risk that livelihood gains made through economic growth and development will not be sustainable over the long term,” Mr Farmer said.
Under the Indonesia-Australia Forest Carbon Partnership the two countries are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, improve livelihoods for forest-dependent communities and to support biodiversity conservation.
Deforestation, particularly in tropical developing countries such as Indonesia, is estimated to cause about 18 per cent of world greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD) aims to address this issue.
Australia has committed A$40 million to date to assist Indonesia establish national policy frameworks and systems to implement REDD and to develop a demonstration activity in Central Kalimantan. The Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership is the first large-scale REDD demonstration activity of its kind in Indonesia and one of the first in the world.
The demonstration activity aims to show an effective approach to reducing emissions from deforestation, including from the degradation of peatlands, and to support efforts to inform a future global agreement on climate change.
In 2009-10, Australia will also work with Indonesia to develop a second REDD demonstration activity, a national carbon accounting system, and a satellite-based system that will enable Indonesia to monitor forest and agricultural fires on a daily basis.
World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. This year’s theme focuses on climate change and its links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.
Media inquiries:
Sonya Neufeld, AusAID Public Affairs (021) 2550 5609 / 0811 187 2365
Bram Marolop, AusAID Public Affairs (021) 2550-5386 / 0811 190 4823