The Daily IIJ

(Bonn, Germany) With lack of science data, Indonesia still determined to lead small islands countries (AOSIS) to push ocean as one of the issue in June climate change talks of UNFCCC in Bonn, Germany.

This action was based on Manado Ocean Declaration (MOD) that adopted last month where Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and AOSIS determined to attract world fund to ocean climate change adaptation and mitigation programme.

Though, the world is still arguing whether or not the ocean is the victim, solution or the part of the reason why climate change is happening.

“Ocean science is expensive and critical to do and the data that policy makers need now is not available,” Edward H.Allison of World Fish Center said.

Archipelagos countries like Indonesia is trying to put ocean with its coral reefs as part of climate change mitigation, which they claimed absorb carbon like the forest do. Industrial countries rejected the ideas by bringing up facts undersea volcanoes and sea creatures also had great potential on contributing carbon to the air.

Indonesian delegate of Eddy Pratomo said the arguments might not be a problem right now.

“The importance is we need to declare that there are impacts (of climate change) to the ocean which clearly infecting human life and we don’t want to inject them into tight details in negotiations yet,” Eddy said. “All we aim now is UNFCCC to consider there are needs to have a comprehensive ecosystem marine.”

Indonesian Climate Change Council (DNPI) of Armi Susandi said that Indonesian government is interesting on performing coalition of AOSIS + Indonesia group to bring ocean issues up till top climate change talks in Copenhagen this December. To enter the negotiation forum, this coalition will bring ocean as adaptation issues which later on will also pushed as mitigation of climate change. Being part of adaptation means Indonesia and other maritime country will had the fund to conserve their ocean from climate change. But being part of mitigation might means ocean nations will gain money from their coast, as the carbon absorber.

Allison research claimed ocean mitigation potential shouldn’t be always about carbon absorber from the coral reefs. The World Fish Center came out with option of planting algae for biofuel in ocean that has less threat to food security. This program will also be the answer for reducing poverty of 25 million fishermen globally.

“We both want to see it in mitigation and adaptation…we can use both to reduce impact of climate change,” Joseph Aitaro of Palau delegates said. Palau as one of AOSIS in Pacific Ocean will lost 200 of their islands because of sea level rising, which left them with nothing.

“And moving it’s not an option for us,” said him.