Indonesia ends deforestation pact with Norway, citing non-payment

JAKARTA, Sept. 11 (Reuters) – Indonesia has finalized an agreement with Norway on cooperation to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation, due to non-payment, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Last year, Norway announced a $ 56 million contribution to Indonesia, based on 2016-2017 results to curb deforestation under a United Nations-backed forest conservation scheme known as REDD +.

In a statement on Friday afternoon, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said it had decided to terminate the agreement due to “the lack of concrete progress in implementing the Norwegian government’s obligation”, after the Southeast Asian country fulfilled its commitment to cut greenhouse gases. emissions by the equivalent of 11.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during the period 2016-2017.

“The decision to terminate the letter of intent will in no way affect the Indonesian government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

Norway’s international climate and forestry initiative said discussions on Oslo’s payments were “constructive and progressing well, within the frameworks set by the regulatory boundaries of our two countries.”

The group said in a statement that it plans to continue supporting Indonesia’s efforts in climate change mitigation.

The Norwegian embassy in Jakarta did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on Saturday.

Controlling deforestation is part of Indonesia’s commitments in the Paris Global Agreement to Combat Climate Change. Its goal is to limit deforestation to between 325,000 and 450,000 hectares (800,000-1.1 million acres) a year, a level it believes will still allow for economic development.

Indonesia under the Paris agreement has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 41% by 2030 with international aid. Government officials have said the country aims to achieve zero net emissions by 2060.

Report by Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fransiska Nangoy; Edited by William Mallard

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