United States-Indonesian Comprehensive Partnership

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=67613

The article outlines some positive results that have emerged from the United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership. It is a long-term commitment between the two nations to address issues related to security, economy, development, the environment, and education among other many other issues. The Environment and Climate Change working group within the partnership has tasked with the job of identifying opportunities of economic growth for Indonesia while mitigating climate change. Some of the actions that they have either implemented or in the process of implementing includes a debt-for-nature swap in which the U.S. forgives a certain amount of Indonesian debt in exchange for Indonesian commitments to protect forests and reduce gas emissions from deforestation. Another program that is detailed in depth in the article is the establishment of 450,00 hectares of marine protected areas. As detailed in the article, one of the key areas of cooperation detailed in the partnership was environmental cooperation. The sustainable marine reserve park is a prime example of an effective and replicable response to an environmental challenge. The most important development that came out of the initiative was the transfer of responsibility for maintaining and monitoring the reserve from government officials to local fisherman whose livelihood were directly affected by the success of the reserve.

Environmental issues are often stalled in the international arena; the Kyoto protocol, and most recently the Copenhagen Summit in 2011—the latest international attempt in addressing leading environmental issues—did not produce significant deliverables in the global campaign against climate change. The environmental provisions in the United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, on the other hand, stand as effective forms of action.

The provisions’ success (measured by the concrete programs in place and level of current implementation) was possible for a number of reasons. First is the political willingness of Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Yudhoyono in the 2012 Rio Summit became developing country leader that unilaterally pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2025. Indonesia’s success will reduce global emissions by 7%, well ahead of the Millennium Development Goal’s requirements. Moreover, by accepting Indonesia’s role as the world’s third largest carbon emitter, Yudhoyono has effectively reversed the traditional developing country stance of blaming the west regarding environmental issues.

Second, the reason plans extended into the implementation phase was the way international environmental groups, United States agencies and donors such as Norway made this possible was by framing environmental concerns as a security concern; Along Indonesia’s coastal areas, residents derive 70% of their protein from fish. Thus, for the Indonesian government, protecting maritime resources became intertwined with the economic livelihood and security of their citizens. Moreover, protecting natural resources fell within ASEAN goals of regional integration.

Lastly, Indonesia’s growing economy makes renewable energy, green and blue markets desirable sectors for investment. Thus, it was within the Indonesia’s best interest to boost their economy by focusing on environmentally friendly sectors.