PHILIPPE LACOSTE DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, PARIS CLIMATE CONFERENCE THERE IS NO OTHER PLANET ORN in Strasbourg, capital city of Alsace in north ern France, Philippe Lacoste, 57, has spent more than 20 years dealing with climate issues. To Lacoste, who grew up inanindustrial city, the environment was not big part of his lf. But the holder of a master's degree in en- al science from the National School foF Public Infra structures (ENTPE) decided that he wanted to save the planet. “Tsaw the damage causedby the waste ofindustral revolution,” hesaid, This year, Lacoste was appointed as the special represen- tative for the climate conference (COP2D in Paris, which will be held between November 30 ancl December Il thas been a dauntingtaskfor him, given thatall 196signatoriesinthe upcom- ing conference are expected to come toa consensus on climate change. Nevertheless, Lacoste remains hopeful. Hebelievesthat people's mindset toward the issue has begun to change. ‘People are more aware ofitnow,” headded. Lacoste wasin Indonesia two weeks ago todiscuss with gov: ‘ernment officials on ways to deal with climate change and oth cer environmental issues. He met with Tempo English reporters ‘Amanda Siddhartaand Dahlia Reraat the Residencede France in What do you expect out of upcoming €0P21 in Paris? We are trying to reach a new agreement ‘on climate change. In the Kyoto Protocol system, only developed countries had the obligation to reduce emission. That sys: tom doesn’t work anymore. So we are de- vising a new system in which all countries propose ~ in accordance to their own pri orities, structures and economies ~ how to contribute. We call it mitigation, to re luce emission and also toadjust to climate change. I think the expectation out of Par isisnotto solveeverythingbutto findanew area, new solutions. What kind of new approach are you pro- posing? Firstofall, the means of implementation How do we deal with developing countries ‘that are going to help developed countries? They all have priorities to fight against po- litical issues, development and infrastruc: ture. So you can imagine a system not only with financial resources but also capacity building and technology transfer for those ‘countries, How wilit be ditfrent from the Kyoto Pro- tool? ‘The Kyoto Protocol was legally binding, but only for developed countries. Mean: while, developing countriesstill have to re: port, They may agree to reduce their emis: sion but they don’thave theobligationtodo 52 | TEMPO | NOVEMBER 1, 2015, ft, That is going o change according to the proposal ofeach country. ‘Why is the expectation very high this time ound? ‘There are two main reasons. First, the two main players, the USA and rave agreed to do something (on climate change) If they dil not, then it would be very difficult for us. The discussion on the ‘agreement would take very long. Second, there is a sense of urgency from the com: panies, although they are not forced to do it- Insurance companies, for instance, care about the climate change phenomena be- ‘cause it's their business. For them, if you have floods, it will directly Gmpact) their balance sheets. So the investors can see that they may have more future investing in certain kinds of energy rather than in others, How important is this issue for Indonesta? Indonesia hasalongcoastal areaand the country has been emitting a lot of green- house gas. And you should be concerned bytherise ofthe ealevel. How dangerous is the threat of arising, sealovel? ‘This is important because a lot of impor tant cities here are on coastal lands, be- ‘cause of geography and the history of har- bors and trading. When you have a very closeto the sea, youcanexpect thesea leveltoriseby onemiter, dependingonthe Jakarta foran interview. Excerpts: place, at the end of the century. Ifyou have anextreme weather phenomenon likeaty- phon, thesea level couldreach up tothree ‘meters. You have to prepare your popula tion for this kind of looming danger. I'sse What do you think of Indonest ing with ellmate change? It's not my place to say, but I think like other countries, Indonesia is dealing witha double agenda, eonomic growth can pro- vide better lives for many people, but you also need to make it sustainable. Even so, what's important is that they're on board with their eontribution, What do you suggest we do? Pmnotaware of thespecificdetailsofthe policy. Keeping the global planet is a mat {er of sustainable development. Find a bal ance. You need resources, that’s normal. ut doso in preparation ofthe next gener- ationoftrees. In Indonesia, forest fires are rampant and resulted n prolonged haze in some areas. ‘Whats the reason for this? think it occurs every year, with the (ad ition of) climate change and EI Nifo. The rain usually stops this kind of fire. In every sector, there are people who don't behave properly. Not only here, but also in oth: er countries. However, there are entrepre: neurs who are responsible and customers who are ready to pay more just be sure it’s fortsin 4PE LACOSTE DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, PARIS CLIMATE CONFERENCE THERE IS NO OTHER PLANET ORN in Strasbourg, capital city of Alsace in north ern France, Philippe Lacoste, 57, has spent more than 20 years dealing with climate issues. To Lacoste, who erew up inan industrial city, the environment was not big part of his lf. But the holder of a master’s degree in en ‘vironmental science from the National School for Public Infra structures (ENTPE) decided that he wanted to save the planet. “saw the damage causedby the waste of industrial revolution, hesaid. Tis year, Lacoste was appointed as the special represen: tative for the elimate conference (COP21) in Paris, which will be held between November 30 and December I. It has been a dauntingtaskfor him, given that all 196 signatoriesinthe upcom ‘conference are expected to come (02 consensus on climate change. Nevertheless, Lacoste remains hopeful. Hebelieves that people's mindset toward the ssuehasbegun to change. “People ‘are moreaware ofitnow,” headded. Lacoste was in Indonesia two weeks ago to discuss with gov ernment officials on ways to deal with climate change and oth- cr environmental issues. He met with Tempo English reporters ‘Amanda Siddhartaand Dahlia Reraat the Résidencede Francein Jakarta foraninterview. Excerpts: What do you expect out of upcoming coP21in Paris? We are trying to reach a new agreement con climate change. In the Kyoto Protocol system, only developed countries had the ‘obligation wo reduce emission. That sys tem doesn't work anymore. So we are de: Vising a new system in which all countries propose ~ in accordance to their own pri orities, structures and economies ~ how to contribute. We call it mitigation, to re- duce emission and also to adjust t climate change. [think the expectation out of Par {sisnotto solveeverythingbutto finda new rea, new solutions. ‘What kind ofnow approach are you pro- posing? First ofall, the means ofimplementation How do we deal with developing countries that are going to help developed countries? hey al have priorities to fight against po- litical issues, development and infrastruc ture, So you ean imagine a system not only with financial resources but also capacity building and technology transfer for those countries. How wilt be different from the Kyoto Pro- tocol? The Kyoto Protocol was legally binding, but only for developed countries. Mean while, developing countries still have tore port. They may agree to reduce their emis- sionbut theyclon’thavethe obligation todo 52 | TEMPO | NOVEMBER 1, 2015 it That is going to change according to the proposal ofeach country. ‘Why is the expectation very high this time around? There are two main reasons. First, the ‘two main players, the USA and China, Ihave agreed to do something (on climate change). I they did not, then it would be very dificult for us. "The discussion on the ‘agreement would take very long, Second, there is a sense of urgency from the com panies, although they are not forced to do It Insurance companies, for instance, care about the climate change phenomena be- cause i's their business. For them, If you hhave floods, it will directly dmpacd their balance sheets. So the investors can see that they may have more future investing in certain kinds of energy rather than in others. How importantis this issue for indonosta? Indonesia has long coastal areaand the ‘country has been emitting a lot of green- house gas. And you should be concerned by therise ofthe sealevel How dangerous isthe threat of arising sealovel? ‘This s important because alot of impor: tant cities here are on coastal lands, be: ‘cause of geography and the history of har- bors and trading. When you have a city very close to thesea, you can expectthesea leveltorise by onemeter, dependingon the place, atthe end of the century. Ifyou have an extreme weather phenomenon like aty pphoon, the sea level could reach up tothree ‘meters, You have to prepare your popu tion for this kind of looming danger. I's se ‘What do you think of Indonesia's efforts in dealing with climate change? t's not my place to say, but I think like other countries, Indonesiais dealing witha double agenda. Economic growth can pro- vide better lives for many people, but you also need to make it sustainable. Even so, ‘whar’s important is that they're on board withtheir contribution, ‘What do you suggest we do? Vmnocaware ofthe specifi details of the policy. Keeping the global planet is a mat ter of sustainable development. Find a bal: ance. You need resources, that’s normal. But do so in preparation of the next gener ation oftrees. Inindonosia, forest fires are rampant and resulted in prolonged haze in some areas. What's the reason for this? think it occurs every year, withthe (ad dition of climate change and El Nifio. The rain usually stops thiskind of fir. In every sector, there are people who don’t behave properly. Not only here, but also in oth ‘er counties, However, there are entrepre: heurs who are responsible and ct who are ready to pay more just .. WE ARE DEVISING A NEW SYSTEM IN WHICH ALL COUNTRIES PROPOSE, IN ACCORDANCE TO THEIR OWN 0 PRIORITIES, STRUCTURES AND ECONOMIES, H CONTRIBUTE OW 10 ‘coming from a company that takes the en- vironment seriously. Iwe don't do anything, how much of a ‘temperature increase can we expect? Ifiesbusinessas usta, willbe about 4 degrees at theendof the century. That’sthe projection, Scientists havetold us that 2de- ‘grees are what they consider feasible, but forsmallislandstates,that'snot enough, ‘Can ronowable energy help mitigate the ‘offects of climate chango? ‘Yes, of course, because they don’t emit (greenhouse gas). They have other effects fon the environment, but where climate ‘change is concerned, they don’t have any emission. The only problem we have wit renewable energy is storage. How can we store more energy? One day we have the ‘wind, the next minute you don't. At night, Uiereisno sun. But most importantly, tec nologyisimproving. How can we create more awareness about ellmate change? More people will change (their mindset) through education. In the environment convention, abigpartoftheactivitiesisere atingawareness. Ithinkit’s only matter of time because the environment isabout the Jong term. We have to decide for the next generation before it's too late. The United Nations Secretary General has said before, theres no plan B because there is no plan et B.Lean't promise you your children can live on the moon or somewhere else, so we must be very eriousabout this. ‘What about those who continue to dony climate change? T think they have to make their case. If people don’t agree with certain hypothe onand explain their point of view: For the time be: ing, their arguments are weak. That’s why thereisonly asmall minority who deny cl ‘mate change), But [respect them, i's im- portant not to have everybody agreeing. ‘There should be contradiction, so your caseis stronger: NOVEMBER 1, 2015 | TEMPO | 53