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Orangutan in the Indonesian rainforest
Photo: imago stock & people / IMAGO
Orangutans, rhinos and tigers live in the Indonesian jungle.
The endangered animals need the third largest rainforest in the world as a retreat, and the trees also store huge amounts of carbon dioxide.
The more areas are cleared, the more CO2 escapes into the atmosphere, which is why Indonesia is one of the world's largest emitters.
Accordingly, climate and animal rights activists rated Indonesia's accession to the agreement for the protection of forests, which was launched this week at the UN climate conference, as positive.
More than 100 countries pledge to finally stop deforestation by 2030 at the latest.
But the joy was short-lived.
Just days later, the Indonesian government is rowing back.
Ministers are questioning the agreement their government just signed.
Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said that the guidelines were "unfair and unmeasured" and that contradicted Indonesia's development goals.
The politician in Glasgow was there herself.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mahendra Siregar said that the agreement made no mention of stopping the clearing of rainforests completely by 2030 at the latest.
It is also conceivable to keep cutting down trees and still reduce the net loss to zero by replanting.
His government interprets the agreement as an obligation for "sustainable forest management".
In fact, the agreement talks about stopping "deforestation".
Phase out coal and green investments
While in the past more rainforest was lost in Indonesia than in Brazil in a few years, significantly less has recently been cleared.
The country is the world's largest exporter of palm oil, but has since stopped issuing permits for new plantations.
In 2020, fewer trees were cut down than in almost three decades.
The economic crisis triggered by the corona crisis could now lead to more clearing again, observers worry.
A reform program by President Joko Widodo is also intended to attract investors with deregulation - new palm oil plantations could again be approved more easily, they say.
At the same time, however, investments should also be made in green future technologies, emphasizes the government in Jakarta.
With a population of more than 270 million, Indonesia aims to reduce emissions to zero by 2060.
To this end, the country is taking part in a coal phase-out program, which was also announced at the UN climate conference in Glasgow.
As in India, South Africa and the Philippines, the gradual withdrawal from coal is to be supported with billions in aid.
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