UI to become research center for climate change in Asia

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post | Sat, 03/20/2010 9:48 AM

The University of Indonesia (UI) may be set up as a research center for climate change in the Asia Pacific region (UI-RCCC) focusing on scientific data to support policy makers in dealing with climate change.

The final decision for the establishment of the center will be made within the next three months with researchers from 50 universities to contribute expertise to the center.

“There is an opportunity to establish the UI-RCCC to the developing country leg of proposed United University Institute for Climate Transition Innovation, whose developed country leg is proposed for establishment in Australia — likely to be hosted at Monash University,” the conference statement said.

“This would place UI-RCCC as a leading component of the UN system.”

The two-day conference opened by Vice President Boediono concluded Friday.

Climate researchers among others from China, Australia, Thailand, Japan and the US attended the seminar jointly organized by the UI and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities World Institute (AWI).

Co-chair of the international climate center, Jim Falk from the University of Melbourne, said that the center would provide Indonesia with a powerful capacity to address climate change challenges.

“It will help Indonesia on adaptation and mitigation efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions to meet targets announced by President [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono],” he told The Jakarta Post.

The conference agreed that Indonesia had assumed the role as a global leader in emission reduction.

“Sustained research is vital to creating the capacity to implement emission reduction, already national policy,” it said.

Indonesia has promised to voluntarily cut 26 percent of emissions by 2020 with its local budget and by 41 percent if developed nations provided financial assistance.

Jatna Supriatna, co-chair of the conference, also lecturer at the University of Indonesia, said that science should be used as the basis in making emission-cut decisions.

“We hope the UI research center for climate change contributes scientific data to help the government in emission-cut targets,” Jatna, also director of the International Conservation (CI), said.

Environmental law expert from the University of Indonesia Andri Wibisana said the government needed an act or regulation specifically addressing climate change.