Minister Launches Carbon Unit Registry, Vows Carbon Market Will Benefit the People
The government has officially launched the Carbon Unit Registry System (SRUK) as a strategic step to strengthen national carbon governance. Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), Mohamad Jumhur Hidayat, asserted that the presence of SRUK not only aims to support the achievement of national emission reduction targets but also to ensure that the economic benefits of carbon trading can be felt directly by the public.
According to Jumhur, the development of the carbon market ecosystem must be built on the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability. This is crucial so that the instrument can have a real impact on sustainable development, especially for those on the front lines of protecting forests and the environment.
“We are here in order to honour the one earth we have. One of the extra-conventional ways is by building a carbon market ecosystem that we can trade,” Jumhur said at the SRUK launch event in Jakarta on Thursday (9/7).
He explained that the government is committed to ensuring the national carbon registration system is built transparently, is traceable, and has high credibility. These standards are necessary to build market trust, both domestically and internationally.
However, Jumhur stressed that the success of the carbon market should not be measured solely by the magnitude of transaction values. The main indicator of its success is the extent to which this instrument can improve the welfare of local communities who protect forest areas and ecosystems.
“The carbon market ecosystem we will build must be fair, transparent, traceable, and most importantly, ensure significant benefits for local communities,” he asserted.
Furthermore, carbon trading is seen as an instrument for equitable development. Through this mechanism, communities that protect natural resources will receive economic incentives for their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
SRUK is expected to become a strong foundation for national carbon governance, ensuring that all carbon unit recording processes are accountable and free from non-credible trading practices. In addition to supporting the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, SRUK is also projected to strengthen Indonesia’s bargaining position in the global carbon market.
“Make SRUK an instrument that allows all of us to participate or contribute, not only in terms of NDC or emission reduction, but also to ensure that communities protecting the forests can prosper,” Jumhur added.
He expressed optimism that solid collaboration between the government, businesses, financial institutions, and the public would accelerate the development of a high-integrity national carbon market while providing real economic benefits at the grassroots level.