Indonesia announces next round of plans to cut its climate pollution

Indonesia formally announced its target to cut carbon pollution as a part of the Paris climate agreement. The country - one of the top ten emitters in the world - announced that it will cut emissions 29 percent below business-as-usual levels by 2030 on its own. To meet this target Indonesia will need to further cut its deforestation emissions and meet its growing energy needs with clean energy.

At the Copenhagen climate summit Indonesia proposed to cut its emissions 26 percent below business as usual levels by 2020 and stated that it could go to 41 percent below this level if sufficient support was provided to assist the country. In advance of the Paris climate summit, Indonesia has proposed that it will cut its emissions 29 percent below business as usual levels by 2030 and further cut emissions to 41 percent below this level if provided with support (see figure).

This proposed cut is a noticeable reduction below the projected business as usual levels in the country that include significant scale-up in coal-fired power plants and some projected increase in its forest and agriculture emissions (including deforestation and peat burning). To meet its target the country will need to significantly scale-up its clean energy as the current business-as-usual plan is for a significant increase in coal-fired power plants. 

 This is evidenced in the projected business-as-usual emissions where the energy sector emissions more than triple by 2030. Total deforestation emissions (agriculture, forest, and other land-use combined with peat fire and decomposition) are projected to grow by 18 percent unless the government takes additional steps (see figure).

Indonesia joins a growing list of the top twenty emitters in the world that are stepping up and outlining the kinds of cuts they are prepared to make as a part of the new international climate agreement to be finalized this December in Paris. Let's hope they get serious after Paris and double-down on clean energy and deforestation reductions.

 

http://www.theenergycollective.com/jakeschmidt/2275656/indonesia-announces-next-round-plans-cut-its-climate-pollution