Deputy Home Minister Bima Arya Urges Regional Councils to Realise Ecologically Just Development
Deputy Home Affairs Minister (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto has emphasised the important role of Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) members in achieving ecologically just development.
He believes regional legislators need to optimise their legislative, budgetary and oversight functions so that the policies produced not only drive growth but also guarantee environmental sustainability.
“DPRD members have a strategic role in ensuring the regional development agenda continues to prioritise the principle of sustainability through their legislative, budgetary and oversight functions,” Bima said in a statement on Thursday (6/8/2026).
He made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at the Regional Green Parliament Caucus Academy with the theme Strengthening Regional Legislative Leadership for Ecologically Just Development at Riss Hotel Malioboro, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), on Thursday (6/8).
Bima said DPRD members need to have a clear direction of struggle by paying attention to issues that directly affect the public, including environmental conservation.
According to Bima, environmental issues are complex challenges that cannot be resolved partially. Therefore, addressing them requires cross-sector and cross-regional synergy, as well as collaboration between governments and various stakeholders.
On this occasion, Bima reminded that various green financing instruments should not be positioned merely as fulfilment of administrative obligations, but should be directed towards supporting programmes that benefit environmental conservation while improving public welfare.
“Our problem is not that there are no policies, but their implementation on the ground. In my view, the issue is not the ideas, but the execution. Then there are problems that cannot be anticipated from the outset,” he continued.
Bima also invited regional legislators to strengthen collaboration with academics, civil society organisations, the business community and various other stakeholders.
According to him, a strong network will enrich the substance of policies while increasing the likelihood of effective, sustainable and ecologically just development programmes emerging.
He also highlighted the growing public attention to environmental issues, especially among Generation Z. Therefore, regional legislators are expected to make environmental issues one of the priority agendas in championing policies that are responsive to future challenges and beneficial for regional development and public welfare.