“The importance of Global Efforts to address Global Warming: Indonesian Perspective”

The 2009 is a crucial year in the international effort to address climate change. A series of UNFCCC meetings are taking place throughout the year, designed to culminate in an ambitious and effective international response to climate change, to be agreed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen, 7-18 December.

Global warming is the hot topic right now, with dire predictions from the scientific community. The previous UNFCCC in Nusa Dua attracted high level diplomats and scientists from all over the world, with the hope of creating a road-map to a solution. Indonesia itself has a vested interest in the success of the conference, not only for tourism purposes but because it also suffers from the effects of global warming. But the frame only isn’t enough, negotiations often "come down to the wire" as no one is willing to move until they feel like they have moved the other side as much as possible — the final showdown.

Being a developing country which most of its population relies on natural resources, Indonesia is highly vulnerable. Development programs in various sectors has forced the Indonesian government to incorporate climate change issues in its planning to be better prepared with changes caused by global warming.

The Indonesian government is therefore aware in trying to cope with global warming effect by involving more people from local to those across the globe to mainstreaming climate change into international and national policies. It includes collaborations in climate change mitigation and adaptation activities as well as participation in international climate change negotiations.

We believe that the core-problem for climate change is for all. And it’s about time to call home for survival. Why should we build walls to keep us from others when the sun above us is burning every inch of the ground on earth where we stand together… We believe that each and every one of us has affect on earth and it’s never too late to be civilized; don't forget we create our lives, not consume them all at the same time. The earth is in all of our processing and it needs to be a counter part and dealt with in great respect or we lose both.

Many millions of people have been lifted out of poverty over the past decades due to rapid economic growth. At the same time, the levels of economic development differ widely.

Yet climate change impacts have started threatening hard-won development progress, and will increasingly do so as climate change takes an ever greater hold. Climate change impacts will be overwhelmingly severe for Asia. They will exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and they have the potential to throw countries back into the poverty trap. And we’re thrown into the fire together.

We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the earth's climate. The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort. Setting targets is always easy, achieving them is not.