Monday, March 1, 2010
Nua Dua Declaration Surpasses Copenhagen Conference
Source: TEMPO Interactive
SUTJI DECILYA | ROFIQI HASAN

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Department of Foreign Affairs considers that the Nusa Dua Declaration by the Global Ministerial Environment Forum have shown significant progress.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah, the progress could be seen from the forum’s seriousness in discussing sensitive issues on the environment.

According to Faiza, the environmental issues discussed and produced in the Nusa Dua Declaration were considered sensitive.

They were among the issues discussed in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of 2009 and not yet resolved.

“Many problems in Copenhagen are still unresolved and have reached a vacuum,” said Faiza when contacted yesterday.

The Global Ministerial Environment Forum from 130 countries reunited in Nusa Dua Bali, last week.

The forum finally produced the Nusa Dua Declaration about a common commitment to resolve global environmental issues, such as climate change, sustainable development, green economy and biodiversity.

At the beginning the declaration was proposed by Indonesia and Serbia, which then become the proposition of the Governing Council United Nations Environment Program President.

“This will assure the Indonesia leadership consistency in the future,” said Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta in a press conference at the Bali International Convention Center.

The declaration also agreed on efforts to prevent climate change impacts through drastic global emission cuts to suppress temperature rises under 2 degrees Celsius.

In the discussions, there were differences of opinion between participants, especially with the inclusion of the Copenhagen agreement as a reference.

But the agreement produced by the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of 2009 was opposed by developed countries, represented by the European Union, U.S. and Norway.

Meanwhile Cuba and Venezuela did not want any Copenhagen agreement reference in the Nusa Dua Declaration.

But on the second day’s meeting held at night, each country’s delegation agreed on the importance of a unifying declaration that showed a commitment to cooperate.

The delegations from 130 countries were also committed to reach a comprehensive agreement in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Mexico, at the end of 2010.

Faiza said he considered that the forum was run smoothly and productively

“We wanted the declaration that was followed by 130 countries to be able to look ahead and emphasize commitment,” he said.