Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10JAKARTA134
2010-01-29 10:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

POTUS Indonesia Climate Initiative: from Science to

Tags:  EAGR EAID KGHG SENV KMCA MCC PREL ID 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1262
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #0134/01 0291018
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291018Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4398
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000134 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP A/S CAMPELL, S/ECC, G, EAP/MTS, AND OES/EGC
USAID FOR A/A FRANK YOUNG, EGAT/MIKE YATES
COMMERCE FOR NOAA
NSC FOR DES WALTON
EPA/OIA FOR RKASAT, MKASMAN, KBUCKLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID KGHG SENV KMCA MCC PREL ID
SUBJECT: POTUS Indonesia Climate Initiative: from Science to
Solutions

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000134

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP A/S CAMPELL, S/ECC, G, EAP/MTS, AND OES/EGC
USAID FOR A/A FRANK YOUNG, EGAT/MIKE YATES
COMMERCE FOR NOAA
NSC FOR DES WALTON
EPA/OIA FOR RKASAT, MKASMAN, KBUCKLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID KGHG SENV KMCA MCC PREL ID
SUBJECT: POTUS Indonesia Climate Initiative: from Science to
Solutions


1. (SBU) Embassy Jakarta suggests the framework below as a way to
carry a POTUS message on climate change and environment during his
upcoming visit to Indonesia. SOLUSI is the Indonesian word for
"solution" and could be the name of an Obama climate and environment
initiative. SOLUSI -- Science, Oceans, Land USe, and Industry --
could provide an umbrella to house the very substantial, broad-based
U.S. activities on climate and environment. As a package, SOLUSI
would support the key messages that POTUS could deliver on his
upcoming visit:

-- Indonesia is a climate change heavy weight, not only due to its
substantial GHG emissions from forests and peat and for its
unsurpassed marine biodiversity, but also for its efforts to advance
a global solution.

-- The U.S. launches a new climate partnership with Indonesia
focused on domestic, regional and global challenges for mitigation
and adaptation.

SOLUSI -- A PACKAGE OF BROAD-BASED U.S. ACTIVITIES
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) The very wide-ranging impacts of climate change do not
allow for a single area of focus, particularly in a large
archipelagic nation like Indonesia. Furthermore, no single U.S.
effort on climate change or environment is large enough in dollar
terms to underpin a strong POTUS message on climate change.
However, the net sum of all USG activities on climate and
environment in Indonesia is substantial and impressive. SOLUSI
provides an elegant package, and could be strengthened further if it
has components into which other major donor countries can plug as
part of a multi-donor effort.

S = Science
--------------


3. (SBU) The U.S. and Indonesia can partner in collaborative science
research to jointly discover new solutions to the full range of
climate challenges. Our bilateral science and technology
cooperation is poised for takeoff under a new Science and Technology
Agreement, which we hope to initial very soon. Joint activities

range from hard science measurement and R&D to converting
discoveries into practical solutions, policy implementation and
commercialization that will benefit local communities in adapting to
and mitigating climate change. Announcing a climate change center
in Indonesia could fulfill a Cairo Vision promise of establishing a
science center of excellence in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, if the
USG creates an ARC component in Indonesia (whether hub or spoke)
that can serve as an open platform for other donor countries to
join, we could multiply the impact in Indonesia. Increased impact
in Indonesia will yield lessons learned to share with other
countries in the region to help them adapt to climate change and
meet mitigation targets.

Potential U.S. activities for inclusion:

- USAID's University Linkages Grants (2 already awarded, including
one on marine climate change)
- Increased DOE labs engagement with Indonesian research institutes
- Methane-to-Markets Partnership (proposed)
- Science and Policy collaboration on Peat Lands
- Disaster preparedness/mitigation
- Biotech collaboration for Food Security
- Joint Ocean Exploration (NOAA Okeanos Explorer)
- NOAA-Indonesia Ocean Science Partnership, including on fish and
food security (proposed)
- Climate Change Center (under consideration through ARC
initiative)

O = Oceans
--------------


4. (SBU) Hundreds of millions (if not billions) in Indonesia and
other countries with a coastline face climate change threats of sea
level rise, ocean acidification, and destruction of habitats that
spawn the fish we rely on for food and protein. Indonesia is home
to the most marine biodiversity in the world and has also shown

JAKARTA 00000134 002 OF 002


leadership on marine and climate-ocean issues. It launched the
6-nation Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI),hosted the World Ocean
Conference, and wants to see increased climate change focus on
oceans. As an archipelagic nation of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia
is acutely sensitive to the potential impacts of climate change.
Indonesia lies at the heart of the Coral Triangle and will host the
permanent Regional CTI Secretariat. The United States is a founding
partner - and largest bilateral supporter - of the CTI, which has
climate change adaptation as a key concern.

Potential U.S. activities for inclusion:

- USAID Jakarta's Marine Program
- Regional support to Coral Triangle Initiative, including Regional
Secretariat in Indonesia
- NOAA's engagement on the joint exploration visit
- USDOJ Marine Law Enforcement capacity building
- 2009 Jakarta 1473 proposal for fish/food security center (needs
funding)
- USAID grants for climate change adaptation and disaster
preparedness

LUS = Land Use
--------------


5. (SBU) This is the most critical area for reducing green house
gases in Indonesia, 80% of which comes from forestry/land-use.
Indonesia is the third largest global emitter and a country with the
third largest tract of tropical forest in the world. Of its
domestic mitigation emissions reduction target of 26%, Indonesia is
targeting 14% from forestry and peat.

Potential U.S. activities for inclusion:

- USAID Jakarta Forest Program
- 1st (concluded) and 2nd (in process) Tropical Forest Conservation
Act agreements
- USAID Orangutan habitat conservation program
- New work on Peat Lands (TBD)
- Policy engagement, particularly on REDD+
- Donor coordination with focus on REDD+
- USTR-led illegal logging cooperation
- USAID mitigation and adaptation grants including food security
- Fish and Wildlife Service grants
- Other U.S.-supported international work (World Bank Forest Carbon
Partnership, RAFT, etc.)

I = Industry
--------------


6. (SBU) If Indonesia does not move on to a low carbon growth
strategy, this fourth most populous nation will see its future
emissions from industrial output and energy eclipse those from
forests and land-use within the next two decades.

Potential U.S. activities for inclusion:

- USAID Clean Energy Program
- EPA's $450,000 "Breathe Easy, Jakarta" clean air program
- EPA collaboration on GHG inventories, pollution, waste
- Multilateral Clean Technology Fund
- USAID climate adaptation support with water utilities
- Industrial and/or science cooperation on developing geothermal
resources


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