Indonesia`s target of reducing carbon emissions by 26 percent in 2020 has received a positive response from countries participating in the just-concluded climate change talks in Bangkok, a spokesman said.

“The appreciation is the international community`s recognition of Indonesia`s resolve to deal with climate change. President (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) has conveyed a statement at the proper time and place as the climate change talks entered a very critical phase,” the chief of the post-2012 working group of the National Climate Change Council (DNPI), Tri Tharyat, said in a press statement issued on Sunday.

At the G20 Summit held in Pittsburgh, the United States, last month, President Yudhoyono said Indonesia had voluntarily set its short-, medium-and long-term targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 to 2050.

Tri said the group of 77 developing countries appreciated President Yudhoyono who spoke on behalf of the developing countries at the G20 Summit.

Indonesia`s initiative should set an example for the developed nations which had a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions individually or on aggregate, he said.

Besides Indonesia, China also unveiled similar steps last August, he said.

At a series of bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the climate change talks, several developed countries also expressed interest in studying more profoundly the Indonesian president`s statement, Tri said.

He said several international non-governmental organizations described as “very promising development” the Indonesian president`s initiative and hoped the developed nations would be more serious in handling climate change issues.

Source : Antara