RI HOPES COPENHAGEN SUMMIT TO YIELD POSITIVE AGREEMENT

Jakarta, Dec 7 (ANTARA) - Indonesia hopes the conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, will be able to produce a strong and positive agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

"We wish to open a new historic page in Copenhagen with an agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol," he said when receiving participants of a National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) course here on Monday.

He said unless a new agreement could be achieved the sea level could rise by 1.5 meters in 2100 in addition to threats of prolonged dry or rainy seasons resulting from climate change.

"Therefore, we must reduce carbon emissions. A number of heads of state will come to the conference. It would be better if we have a plan of action to reduce carbon emissions by up to 26 percent through forestation, control of fuel oil consumption and use of transportation means," he said.

The Indonesian head of state said he was optimistic a common agreement would be reached at the meeting.