Indonesia number three carbon emitter

Indonesia is the world's third biggest carbon criminal, according to a new report on climate change published in earlier this week by the World Bank and the Department for International Development.


The report Indonesia and Climate Change shows that Indonesia comes third behind the United States and China in producing greenhouse gas emissions.

Deforestation, forest fires and peat land degradation are amongst the most detrimental environmental factors listed, making Indonesia especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change as global warming threatens to raise sea levels and flood coastal farming areas, also threatening food security.

According to data from the report, Indonesia’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions stand at 3.014 billion tonnes, trailing behind China at 5.017 billion tonnes, and the United States, which is the world’s top emitter with 6.005 billion tonnes.

Indonesia’s yearly carbon dioxide emissions from energy, agriculture and waste are around 451 million tonnes while forestry and land use change are estimated to account for a staggering 2.563 billion tonnes, the report also shows.

The report said: “An increase of global temperatures has already resulted in prolonged drought, heavy rainfall leading to floods and tidal waves in Indonesia, putting the archipelago’s rich biodiversity at risk.

“Emissions resulting from deforestation and forest fires are five times those from non-forestry emissions. Emissions from energy and industrial sectors are relatively small, but are growing very rapidly.”

The timing of the report’s release earlier this week coincides with the G8 Summit in Germany where the environment and climate change are at the top of the global political agenda.

This December, Indonesia will host the next annual Kyoto Protocol meeting on the resort island of Bali.

Indonesia signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 and ratified it in 2004.

The protocol, which requires over 30 developed countries to lower their emissions to below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012, excludes developing nations from the emissions cuts during the first phase.

Dana Gornitzki

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe