President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived at Gardenmoen international airport in Oslo at 7 a.m. local time Wednesday to sign a letter of intent for a US$1 billion grant from Norway to reduce emissions.
The letter is set to be signed by Yudhoyono and Norway Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in a bilateral meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday in hope to create a new model of partnership to implement the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) Plus scheme, which could be followed by other countries.
The President made an official briefing to government officials at Holmenkollen Park Hotel Rica to explain about the signing at 9:30 a.m. after flying for approximately 15 hours from Jakarta to Oslo with a one-hour transit in Dubai on board of the chartered Garuda Indonesia Airbus A 330 airplane.
“Indonesia has the honor to be chosen as a model for developed and developing countries. Why Indonesia is given the opportunity to receive contributions from the international community, in this case developed countries, in financial sharing? Because they know Indonesia can guard its tropical forests, which function the world’s lung,” said Yudhoyono.
He added that it would be fair for developed countries to provide funds to help Indonesia protect its forests for the world’s benefit. But the President pointed out that the funds should be used appropriately.
“They have to be sure that we not only have the commitment but can implement the funds given. Therefore I expect the central and local governments can be responsible … Use the funds appropriately, without any misuse,” he said.
“There shouldn’t be any cheating. With or without help we should protects our forests,” he added.
Coming with the President are First Lady Any Yudhoyono, Environment Minister Gusti M. Hatta, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa, Investment Coordinating Board Head Gita Wirjawan, Chairman of the Presidential Working Unit for Supervising and Controlling Development Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Riau Governor Rusli Zaenal, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu, East Kalimantan Governor Awang Farouk and presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal.
The President will also attend the high-profile Oslo Climate and Forest Conference on Thursday to push implementation in reducing emissions from deforestation.
There will be a dinner at Wednesday evening for heads of delegation hosted by Stoltenberg to be attended by representatives of about 50 countries.
Thursday will see the conference opening session on “A Global Partnership on Climate and Forests: The Way Ahead”, followed by bilateral meetings between heads of state and government.
Yudhoyono seeks to accelerate the implementation of the REDD Plus scheme, referred as a “front-runner that could provide examples for solutions also on other issues”.
The REDD Plus scheme provides incentives for forestry countries that manage to preserve their forests, part of the Copenhagen Accord agreed by countries attending the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
