VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 26 - Indonesian Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan held a videoconference with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, formerly US secretary of state, to discuss clean energy.

During the videoconferencing, Pandjaitan and Kerry also discussed cooperation in addressing the challenge of climate change by building climate change awareness before the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and partnership to promote global ambitions, among other things, spokesman for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Jodi Mahardi noted in a written statement released on Friday.

"In addition, they discussed the strategy of achieving nationally determined contributions (NDC) and the efforts to handle COVID-19," he revealed.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will soon report the latest assessment of climate crisis, and all large countries are expected to raise their climate ambitions.

The US will host a summit of world leaders on April 22 to intensify efforts to address the issue of global warming. The summit is expected to bolster the commitment to carbon reduction based on the Paris Agreement.

During the videoconference, Pandjaitan and Kerry were on the same page that both nations will not wile away time to wage a war on climate change and should work towards developing the work plan of bilateral cooperation to raise the scale and scope of climate ambitions.

Pandjaitan echoed Indonesia’s contentment to make the US a strong partner in climate action.

"Coordinating Minister Luhut also stated that he, along with the environment and forestry minister and the foreign minister, are ready to cooperate with John Kerry to strengthen the outcome of the summit (of world leaders) to be held on April 22, 2021," he affirmed.  (Antaranews)