We have targets for emission reduction and I can say that the volume of emissions in the UK has dropped by 28.3 percent since 1990,"
Palangkaraya, C.Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - The visiting United Kingdom`s environment minister, Jim Paice, here Friday called on the Central Kalimantan people to continue preserving their region`s forests.

"Global warming has become one of the world`s serious issues. We hope by maintaining and conserving the world`s forests, including those in Central Kalimantan, we will be able to overcome the problem of climate change," he said.

He said local peoples could play an important role in helping the government conserve the country`s forests. Deforestation, conversion of fossil fuels and land use were producing emissions that cause climate change, he added.

Therefore, the British government intended to help Indonesia preserve its forests, especially those in Central Kalimantan province which had been designated as the location of a REDD+ (Reduction of Emissions from Degradation and Deforestation Plus) pilot project, he explained.

"The UK and Indonesia are committed to reducing these emissions and we have been discussing with the government how to achieve this goal," Paice said.

The UK was also trying to reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources by its people so as to lower the amount of emissions in the country.

"We have targets for emission reduction and I can say that the volume of emissions in the UK has dropped by 28.3 percent since 1990," he said.

He said the UK was now also still looking for ways to use renewable energy sources such as solar, wind power, waves or hydro power.

Meanwhile, the secretary of the REDD Plus Task Force, Agus Purnomo, said recently the Norwegian government would donate additional funds amounting to US$1 million for the implementation of carbon emission reduction program from deforestation and forest degradation in Indonesia.

"The background of the US$1 million grant provision is the fact that until now there is no carbon market in the world. It is hoped that after the REDD+ program has run for eight to ten years, there will be such a market," he said .(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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