INDONESIA - ENVIRONMENTAL MEETING WITH EMIL SALIM

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001744 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR OES/EGC AND EAP/MTS COMMERCE FOR NOAA/INTERNATIONAL USDOE FOR INTERNATIONAL AND FOSSIL ENERGY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KGHG SENV ENRG ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA - ENVIRONMENTAL MEETING WITH EMIL SALIM REF: STATE 75287 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During a candid meeting on June 21 with Charge, Dr. Emil Salim, environmental advisor to Indonesian President Yudhoyono, welcomed President Bush's attention to climate change, but criticized its "overemphasis on the clean energy sector and failure to provide incentives for safeguarding natural resources, especially forests." He challenged the United States to clarify the implications and obligations for countries invited to the November planning meeting of the 15 highest carbon emitting countries. Salim confided that President Yudhoyono had asked him to be the Indonesian Special Envoy to the United Nations (UN) Conference of Parties 13 (COP 13) in Bali December 3-14. On a more conciliatory note, he asked the Charge for his help in making the conference a success. Charge urged that the Indonesian chair of this conference seek concrete "win-win" conclusions. End Summary. More Attention to Natural Resources -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Per instructions in reftel A, we invited Emil Salim, Indonesia's leading environmentalist to share his views on President's Bush Climate Change initiative. Salim serves as an environmental adviser to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), was State Minister for Population and Environment from 1978 to 1993 and is currently Indonesia's leading expert on sustainable development and environmental preservation. ¶3. (SBU) Meeting with the Charge on June 21, Salim wasted no time launching into his views on the shortcomings of the Bush Climate Change speech. Salim noted that developing countries will attribute ulterior motives to the Bush initiative, such as attempting to sell new energy efficient technologies in order recapture the sizeable research and development costs. Charge pushed back, but Salim charged ahead to his second main point. Salim emphasized that developing countries will focus on the speech with its overemphasis on energy technology and lack of attention to safeguarding the environment. "Why doesn't the speech mention forests?" ¶4. (SBU) According to Salim, the President's initiative only addresses the problem of carbon supply via mechanisms to reduce emissions. Salim suggested that if the U.S. were serious about climate change, it would also focus on greater carbon absorption, for example a program to reward communities for preserving forests or peat swamps for greater carbon capture. Indonesia forests and peat swamps face pressures from impoverished populations. Farmers and villagers need alternative means to support their families and cannot maintain rainforests only for the sake of environmentalism. Without some sort of compensation, the climate change problem will only intensify as countries like Indonesia sacrifice their natural resources in order to support the population. Salim noted that peat swamps are even more critical than the forests, absorbing 100 times the level of carbon. Meeting of Large Emitters -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Salim noted that Indonesia needs more information before deciding to participate in the U.S. proposed meeting of the largest carbon emitters. Specifically, Salim would like to know the implications (incentives and obligations) for participation. COP-13: "Success or Failure is In Your Hands" -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Ending the meeting on a conciliatory note, Salim confided that President Yudhoyono had recently invited him to be the Indonesian Special Envoy to COP-13. Until President SBY makes the official announcement, Salim plans to quietly prepare for his role. Salim requested the Charge's help in making the conference a success. He requested the Charge's help in making any intended role or agenda transparent. Salim noted that he also worried about OPEC and its disincentives with energy alternatives, but it was the US role that was his greatest worry. "The US can make or break the conference," he told the Charge. "Will you help me?" Charge urged that the Indonesian chair of this conference seek concrete "win-win" conclusions. HEFFERN