Greenpeace has praised Indonesia’s commitment to environmental issues, including the country’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent by 2020, or 41 percent with foreign aid.
Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo said in a press statement, after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the presidential office here on Thursday, “Indonesia has shown its commitment not only to environmental issues but also to encouraging synergy between the economic and environmental sectors and poverty reduction.”
“Before I joined Greenpeace, I was involved in poverty alleviation and reduction programmes. The results of my discussion with the President show that economic growth, environment protection and poverty reduction can go together,” Kumi stated.
He said protecting the environment and reducing poverty could be done together, adding that increase in investment could go hand in hand with environmental protection and poverty reduction.
Kumi explained the meeting was in light of the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
With regard to the development of oil palm plantations, he said Greenpeace was never against the business. The organisation respected environmental sustainability, so that economic benefits could be achieved along with environmental protection, Kumi added.
He has invited President Yudhoyono to visit the Rainbow Warrior ship that will be unveiled at the Rio Summit, which will be held from June 20-22.
Kumi said the campaign ship was also scheduled to visit Indonesia in 2013.
At the meeting with President Yudhoyono, Kumi was accompanied by Greenpeace Asia Executive Director Von Hernandez, head of Greenpeace Southeast Asia Indonesia office Nur Hidayati, and the head of global campaign for Indonesian forests of Greenpeace Global Forest Network and Greenpeace Indonesia board member, Abdon Nababan.
Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono was flanked by environment minister Kambuaya and forestry minister Zulkifli Hasan.
