The Indonesian government plans to set aside 2 trillion rupiah (about US$217 million) to upgrade capacity building of public next year in dealing with the expected extreme weather changes due to the global warming.
The proposed expenditures for mitigation and adaptation programs on climate change in the 2009 state budget would be about five times higher than the US$42.6 million planned for the state ministry of environment.
"I am very happy and feel honor for the government's appreciation by allocating such special budget for the climate change's mitigation and adaptation," the Jakarta Post daily on Sunday quoted Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar as saying.
The minister said that the climate change budget would go to the National Climate Change Council (NCCC) before being distributed to the related executing agencies both in Jakarta and local areas.
The NCCC, which chaired by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, with its members of 16 cabinet ministers, is responsible for formulating national policies, strategies and projects in dealing with climate change.
2008-8-18
