Welcome

Rachmat Witoelar - State Minister of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia

First, I want to thank His Excellency Mr. Kivutha Kibwana [Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya] for all the work achieved by the previous Conference under his leadership. The Indonesian Government and the people of Indonesia are truly honoured to welcome delegates to the Thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Third session of the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. The high-level event promises to be one of the most important global gatherings of our time.

Climate change is a global problem, requiring a global solution based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. This solution should be inclusive, benefiting and encompassing all. Indonesia is fully committed to preserving and protecting the environment. While we are seriously conducting our own approach to address climate change, we need genuine support and partnerships with developed countries. We are expecting developed countries to rise to the challenge of leadership on climate change. Indonesia is looking forward to this Conference and is anticipating its results, as are many other nations. There is today a great deal of public awareness of climate change reality and the devastation it can bring if nothing is done. There is an urgent and widespread public demand for vigorous and concerted actions to achieve longterm climate stability. We expect that the Bali Conference will provide the road map for such actions. As one of the world’s tropical rainforest countries, we realise we have to do more in safeguarding and protecting our forests. We have to do our own obligations and to set up concrete and intensive reforestation-afforestation-clean development mechanisms. We hope that there will be constructive cooperation to support our own goals and achievements in managing our forests.

Together with other developing nations, we have to mobilise the resources we have to concrete actions within a global cooperation. The essence of our partnership and cooperation is that all nations can fulfill their own obligations, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The hosting of this event has sent clear signal to the citizens of the world that climate change is getting the attention it deserves. Climate change is the responsibility of all of us. Industrialised and developing nations cannot be treated equally, but we all have to share this responsibility towards our future generations.