The recognition was apparent from the Global Climate Fund (GCF)-approved US$103.78 million of funding for Indonesia to acknowledge its achievement, the minister stated here on Thursday.
"This is known as the result-based payment scheme for the REDD+ program, specifically for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation activities," Bakar stated while speaking during an online press conference.
The payment was decided on the basis of successful results of Indonesia's efforts to reduce gas emissions whose reports were verified by an independent team of technicians appointed by the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
"This is testament to Indonesia's commitment and achievement in controlling climate change. Hence, this is not a one-sided claim by Indonesia but one that has been verified through data validity and methodological consistency," she stated.
Indonesia has managed to cut the rate of deforestation during the 2011-2017 period as compared to the 2003-2009 period.
"Since 2011, we have in place a new licensing moratorium agenda for primary forest and peat areas," she pointed out.
Funds from the GCF will be reutilized for environmental restoration in line with President Joko Widodo's directives, the minister stated.
"This is again to be channeled for environmental restoration and is handled by the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH) in which the minister of finance, several ministers, and I are involved," she remarked.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati lauded Indonesia's achievement in securing funding approval of $103.8 million from the GCF.
"We are happy that the minister of environmental affairs and forestry and the team managed to get funding approval of US$103.8 million, which is a form of support for the REDD+ proposal," he remarked.
Indrawati pointed to the government’s apportioning of a yearly budget worth Rp89.6 trillion since 2016 in order to tackle climate change.
This year, the funding was down owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, she pointed out.
Until 2020, Indonesia has funded some 34 percent of the total climate change financing requirements, amounting to Rp3,461 trillion, or an average of Rp266.2 trillion annually. Related news: Jokowi reminds aides of carbon emission reduction target in 2020
Related news: Norway to pay Rp812 billion for gas emission reduction in Indonesia
Translator: Astrid FH, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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