Indonesia has Potentials To Develop Blue Economy

Jakarta, Sept. 17 (Antara) - Indonesia has the potentials to develop "blue economy", an economy with quality growth without causing damage to the environment. It was the gist of remarks in a panel discussion when launching the "New Climate Economy" (NCE) report titled "Better Growth, Better Climate" by representatives of the member countries of the Commission of Global Economy and Climate held at the BP-REDD+ office here on Wednesday. "Indonesia has big potential to develop blue economy as it has in abundance sources of renewable energy," Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia and East Timor Stig Traavik said commenting on the NCE report. Other speakers at the panel discussion included Deputy for Planning and Finance of the Management Body of REDD+ Agus Pratama Sari, Swedish Ambassador Johanna Brismar Skoog, Climate Politic Advisor, UK Climate Change Unit Stuart Bruce and Country Director of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Indonesia Anna Van Paddenburg. The NCE report was launched on Wednesday as part of a series of agenda ahead of "UN Climate Summit" at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, the United States. The report says a gas emission producing country must made fundamental change in three main sectors -- energy, system of land and forest utilization and urban structuring. Traavik said seven new members of the commission - Colombia, Ethiopia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Britain, and Indonesia are set to accelerate economic growth and at the same time reduce emission. Norway as partner of Indonesia in the efforts to reduce emission of green house gasses will build a pilot project of renewable energy sources on the island of Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara and the step is expected to be followed in other islands in the country. Swedish Ambassador Johanna Brismar Skoog spoke about the need for change in view points on environmental conservation starting from people communities. "The earth could be taken care with our hands to reduce the use of oil fuel, reduce garbage production and use renewable energy," she said. In Sweden, Stockholm had succeeded as an exemplary city in reducing gas emission by developing renewable energy and at the same time succeeded in boosting economic growth, she said . "Stockholm succeeded in reducing gas emission by as much as 35 percent and at the same time jacking up economic growth to 41 percent," she said. Deputy for Planning and Finance of the Management Body of REDD+ Agus Pratama Sari said the Indonesian government continues to stick to its commitment to reduce gas emission by 26 - 41 percent with economic growth of 7 percent per year. At the national level, this report would be distributed among the stakeholders in Nov. 2014 after the cabinet of the new government is formed, he said. This report would serve as a reference for the new government in making an environmentally friendly economic policy, he said. The new government under Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will take over the presidency from outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono next month.