Forestry Minister: Climate Crisis Must Not Be Overridden by Global Geopolitics

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW YORK – Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, has reminded that the current complexity of global geopolitics must not deter the international community from addressing the real threat of the climate crisis.

Raja Juli emphasised that foresters around the world must remain steadfast and focused on their primary mission to protect the world’s lungs. He stated that the increasingly severe environmental challenges require a more solid and non-fragmented global approach.

“Protecting the world’s forests amid the current complex geopolitical landscape requires a renewal of multilateralism. We need stronger solidarity and concrete collective action to ensure the sustainability of forests for future generations,” said Raja Juli at the 21st United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) in New York on Monday (11/5/2026).

Quoting a statement from the Ministry of Forestry, at UNFF21 Raja Juli invited the international community to view forests beyond administrative or political boundaries. According to him, strengthened international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships are the only way to mobilise greater support and investment for sustainable forest management worldwide.

He reminded all UN member delegations present that amid various existing differences, commitment to nature conservation and biodiversity protection must remain a shared priority for a greener and more inclusive future for the Earth.

In the same forum, Raja Juli also reaffirmed Indonesia’s strong commitment to biodiversity protection. At UNFF21, Raja Juli highlighted two national strategic steps that serve as pillars for strengthening wildlife conservation and the management of conservation areas in Indonesia today. The first step is the establishment of the Task Force for Innovative Financing for National Parks and Iconic Species Conservation.