The Bali climate change conference in December 2007 elevated Indonesia’s role in the international talks, and it brought climate change to the domestic agenda. Indonesia has not boxed itself into a corner in the climate talks, and the government has senior ministers with strong economic credentials who are well respected on the international stage. So the Indonesian government is well placed to play a bridging role, and represent the interests of many other countries at similar levels of development.
Of course Indonesian policymakers are preoccupied with the global financial crisis, like their counterparts elsewhere. But Obama has shown that there is a strong connection between the economic, energy and climate agendas even in these troubed times, consistently portraying the financial crisis as an opportunity for change. The more problematic aspect of timing for Indonesia may be the Presidential election this year. Yet the prospect of economic gains for developing countries from global climate policy makes it relevant to the domestic agenda. Indonesia’s core interest would be to elicit substantial international investment in cleaner energy and gentler forest industries, once money flows again. And there may well be a role for Indonesia at the global stage to help make that happen.
Indonesia could be the key to a troubled world.
There many natural resources in indonesia: cultural diversity, religion, race. The historical development of religion in the area hasn’t been without issue. Indonesians can learn a lot from the problems that exist and then be a mirror to the core problems of the world.
Indonesia can and should be a major player in any climate change deal. Indonesia’s leadership is fully aware of the importance of these complex issue and Indonesia’s potential contribution. However, there is a serious lack of awareness in the general population, in regional governments and in the business sector of what is at stake for Indonesia. It will be especially difficult for Indonesia to lead without the active support of regional governments and the business sector because they are critical for the implementation of new policies, especially those that provide Indonesia with new opportunities and incentives to a major player. It would be wise for the governments of partner countries to direct some of their capacity building resources to developing greater knowledge in the business sector. At the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, for example, we badly need the knowledge to be able to assess the options for business and the national interest in a balanced and forward looking way. This type of knowledge is not yet available in Indonesia. Some joint studies between the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and experts in partner countries could make the difference in Indonesia’s ability to play a leadership role.