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Indonesia
This Week in AsiaOpinion
Ma’ruf Amin
Ma’ruf Amin

Opinion | COP27: How Indonesia can use G20, Asean platforms to take lead in tackling climate change

  • In call for real implementation and global support, Indonesia aims to become regional leader in accelerating efforts to protect the Earth
  • Countries urged to double financing for climate-affirmative action, facilitate just transition to renewable energy, help poor and marginalised communities

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Indonesian Vice-President Ma’ruf Amin. Photo: Facebook
Ma’ruf Amin
It is a great honour to represent Indonesia at the 27th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on November 6-18, 2022. I see COP27 as an important event where world leaders must take advantage of the momentum to not only call for ambition but also to encourage real implementation, including the fulfilment of support from developed and developing countries.
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Despite what the world has done since COP26 in Glasgow, there has been insufficient progress. COP27 is even more challenging. Geopolitical tensions, energy and food crises, inflation and financial recession, have the potential to compromise priorities and commitments in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Indonesia’s position in COP27 is strategic because besides being the president of the G20, in 2023 Indonesia will be the chair of Asean. In the G20 forums, Indonesia pushed several critical points for climate change and energy transition policies, including the Bali Compact, which aims to accelerate the energy transition towards sustainable clean energy.
A flooded village pathway in Mondoliko, Central Java. Indonesia has urged inclusive climate-affirmative actions that take into account the interests of the poor and marginalised. Photo: AP
A flooded village pathway in Mondoliko, Central Java. Indonesia has urged inclusive climate-affirmative actions that take into account the interests of the poor and marginalised. Photo: AP
Our vision as an Asean member state is to become a regional leader in accelerating the realisation of climate action. at a more tangible climate action. Through a bilateral partnership with Australia, Indonesia aspires to lead emissions reduction efforts by accelerating the transition to renewable energy. President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have also agreed on a partnership for energy transition infrastructure and climate resilience. Through these initiatives, Indonesia can become a leading source of clean energy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Indonesia is committed to reducing emissions by 2030 by 31.89 per cent with our own efforts or up to 43.2 per cent with international assistance. Indonesia has also proposed a long-term strategy that explores opportunities on the path to net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner. Our cross-cutting efforts towards this target include the acceleration of renewable energy transition and initiatives to reduce industrial emissions throughout sectors and supply chains. We are reducing the rate of deforestation and land degradation through reforestation, replanting and peatland water level management, including the restoration of 756,000 hectares of mangrove areas.

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Pakistan floods are ‘climate carnage’, says UN chief Guterres

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But we realise the challenge is enormous, especially in maintaining the balance of reducing emissions with economic growth, equity and building climate resilience. Climate adaptation efforts still have to be improved, including towards food security challenges, ecosystem resilience, water security, energy independence, health, urban and rural settlements, and coastal areas and small islands.

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The commitment of Indonesia and other developing countries must be supported by financial and technology transfer commitments of developed countries.

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