COP21: Countries Move One Step Closer to Rescue 'Melting' Earth

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Climate change issue will forever be the homework of all nations across the globe as both natural disasters as well as man-made disasters in a single country are very likely to generate impacts beyond its national border, worst yet, at global scale. This is why many countries very much necessitated the establishment of a forum which serves as the platform for discussion over climate change issue to take place and for agreement on addressing it to be collectively accepted by all involving parties.

Scores of high-level gatherings have taken place in the past with the most globally acknowledged one being Climate Change Conference (COP) in partnership United Nation Environment Program (UNEP). In 2014, the event COP20 was held in Lima, Peru where over 15.000 official delegates of nations from all over the world formulated the benchmark for renewed global climate deal called ‘Lima Call For Climate Action’.

COP 21 this year in Paris starting today (30/11/2015) through to December 11 will be slightly different to the previous one as hundreds of attending head of states will be given the privilege of an extra two days to identify further partnership opportunities with one another in tackling climate change problem whilst expanding capacity and space for business innovation to come and play. Head of states, key players in businesses, government, UN and public institutions are encouraged to engage in the in-depth discussion and expand networks among one another as to enable innovative partnerships for an effective ‘change’ of the relatively worrying stage global climate.

As has been outlined in the COP21 official website, French President Francois Hollande and French Minister of Foreign Affairs together with future President of COP21, Laurent Fabius, as representatives of the hosting nation, sought to ‘generate political momentum ahead of the negotiations, which will take place at a technical level then ministerial level’.

It has been reported that 150 Heads of State confirmed attendance for the event and that level of participation makes the event the largest diplomatic gathering after United Nations General Assembly in New York last time.

It was initially speculated that the event may be postponed or cancelled due to the recent terrors in Paris and bereavement that continues to populate the minds of people living and residing within France region. French Ambassador to Indonesia, Corinne Breuze however said that those terrors will not stop her country from saving the planet.

“In spite of this event last Friday in Paris our president insisted to maintain the cop 21 this is the united nations conference for climate change. It’s a very important issue for the world, for the whole planet because it is about preventing the temperature of the planet to rise,” Corinne spoke to Liputan6.com during ‘The Ambassador’ special interview held a couple of days following the November 13 attacks in Paris.

When asked about Indonesia’s significance for this particular climate change forum, she went to explain how the archipelago state is particularly important because ‘it’s a victim of the climate change, rising of sea level, changing of seasons, floods… and viewed to be one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases’.

During state visit to Turkey to attend G20 Summit Indonesian President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo addressed his nation’s ambitious goal of reducing gas emission by 29%.

In his speech on Sunday 15 November 2015, President Jokowi prompted attending nations to yield full support of the archipelago state’s benevolent pursuance as the positive impact can be felt at the global level.

“Every country ought to express its commitment to actualize the COP 21 meeting in Paris and together we can assure its successful discussion followed by effective conduction,” President Jokowi shared during Working Lunch with leaders of other G20 nations, Antalya, Turkey.

According to President Jokowi, Indonesia has vividly shown its take in trying to reduce gas emission in accordance to the “Intended National Determined Contribution” (INDC) with the country envisioning a massive reduction in 2030 by 41% with the help of international unfailing support.

COP 21 meeting in Paris is designed for participating countries to discuss further regarding the issue of climate change. President Jokowi informs that reduction on gas emission will surely contribute to the overcoming of such condition.

He is also hoping that developed countries would generously help developing countries like Indonesia with financial backings, environmentally-friendly technology transfer and capacity for development thus that the progress towards addressing such issue can be greatly hastened.

Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia, Stig Traavik provides an answer, better yet solution to help Indonesia along with other nations who want to contribute to the improvement of global climate. According to him, ‘countries in the North and countries in the South ought to work together to reduce emissions’.

“So Norway, we have decided to reduce our own emissions by 40% by 2030. That is real reduction, no buying of quotas, but cutting emissions together with other European countries,” Mr. Stig Traavik informed Liputan6.com interviewer for ‘The Ambassador’ program during special dialogue on November 12 2015.

“Indonesia has been very brave, Indonesia has now promised to cut down its emission by 28% which is its quite high among developing countries and up to 41% with international cooperation,” he further explained.

COP21 Schedule (Local time):

10.00 a.m: Official opening ceremony of the conference as well as inauguration of Laurent Fabius as President of COP21.

11.00 a.m: Opening speeches by France President Francois Hollande, Laurent Fabius and UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon. 

In between these hours, 150 Heads of States will be given the time address their intention through speeches in a concise manner due to relatively restricted time. 

4 p.m: launch of the Mission Innovation (Clean Tech) initiative. This is a commitment by States to double their research and development budgets by 2020 and by private investors to increase their own investments.

5 p.m: launch of the Solar Alliance. This is a shared platform for cooperation between the countries with considerable solar resources that are leading the project: Brazil, Peru, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Indonesia, UAE and Fiji.

6 p.m: carbon pricing panel, chaired by the World Bank and the IMF, in the presence of the American and Chinese Presidents in particular. This event will enable committed world leaders to encourage their peers to support carbon pricing on an international scale. It will be the first meeting on the subject among leaders at this level.

(Akp/Tnt)