Lack of Research Threatens Success Of Ocean Summit

Jakarta - While next month`s inaugural World Ocean Conference will try to put oceans firmly onto the global climate change agenda, host country Indonesia has yet to gather any scientific evidence to determine whether its own huge expanse of ocean either absorbs or releases carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming.

The head of the National Council on Climate Change`s secretariat, Agus Purnomo, said on Friday that “Indonesia`s scientific knowledge is not sufficient to determine whether our oceans are capable of absorbing carbon or, instead, releasing it.”

The conference is expected to give birth to the Manado Ocean Declaration, which will address four points: the impact of climate change on oceans, the role of the oceans in regulating climate change, adaptation and mitigation, and opportunities for international cooperation.

The government is eager to submit the declaration to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which could result in international funding for adaptation and mitigation efforts.

While one country, South Africa, expects to present a study in Manado showing that the Southern Ocean, which it borders, has released carbon dioxide, many observers say scientific agreement is a long way off. They still believe there has been too little research into the role oceans play in climate change, whether as a source or a sink for greenhouse gases.

“We must present the latest scientific proof to determine the function of our oceans and coastal areas,” Agus said. “This is what we need to establish first, considering that in Indonesia there is little marine scientific research.”

Touting the importance of more scientific work, Agus said it had taken many years before the role of forests in climate change got the attention of international players. At the same time, he said, it was unclear whether stepping up discussion of the seas around Indonesia would benefit the country or create controversy.

“Indonesia is not the only country with long shorelines; lots of developed countries also have long shorelines and we need to be very careful during the negotiations” if funding is involved, he said. “We don`t want to be blamed by other developing countries for giving more money to rich countries than is given to them.”

Suharsono, head of the oceanographic research center at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, or LIPI, agreed that there was still no consensus on the carbon dioxide containment potential of Indonesia`s oceans.

“We still don`t have much research on oceans, but we are now conducting studies on the acidity levels of the water, how much carbon dioxide is actually there and how much carbon can be absorbed by mangroves,” he said.

“Carbon dioxide in the oceans is very dynamic, making it hard to measure.”

Suharsono said it was also important to note that the seas around Indonesia had their own ecological characteristics that might allow them to absorb more carbon than those of nations like South Africa. Fidelis E. Satriastanti

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com (24 April 2009)
Photo: http://netsains.com

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