Norway Reflects on Indonesia's National Awakening Day for a Climate Mission
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Norway’s ambassador to Indonesia, Rut Krüger Giverin, reflected on Indonesia’s National Awakening Day on Wednesday as a spark for Indonesian youth to rise to the major challenges of the present: mitigating environmental damage and global climate change.
At the launch in Jakarta on Wednesday of an environmental documentary titled “Taking Care of Tomorrow” by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, he noted that history records that young men and women were the driving force that propelled Indonesia to its independence in 1908.
He said that the spirit of breaking down barriers is relevant to be adopted in preserving environmental sustainability.
‘The same thing is happening today, but the challenges are different. The challenge now is environmental degradation and the environment, forest loss, fires, and a rapidly changing climate. The issue of forests and the environment is not a tale about the future; this is a tale about the present,’ he said.
He emphasised that the task of saving the environment will never be completed if it is merely debated on computer screens or in ministry conference rooms and embassy offices; it demands genuine action and collaboration from all levels of society on the ground.
On that occasion, the embassy expressed appreciation for the strategic partnership that has been forged between Norway and Indonesia on environmental issues.
As a demonstration of commitment to that success, the Norwegian government has channelled a US$216 million results-based contribution. They have also committed to supporting Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Uses (FOLU) Net Sink target to 2030.
‘TMy main message is the important role of mothers, fathers, and everyone here to keep moving together, collaborating in line with the proportions and capacities of each party. Thank you for your dedication,’ he said.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry stated that the forestry and land sector plays a crucial role, contributing 60 per cent to the effort to meet the target for reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Arga Paradita Sutiyono, Project Manager FOLU NC 2&3 of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said that without mitigation actions, Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions are projected to reach 2.8 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
Through various actions of the forestry sector under FOLU Net Sink, the Indonesian Government aims to reduce that figure to 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
That, he said, translates to a reduction of 1.6 billion tonnes, of which 60 per cent hinges on the forestry sector.
The main strategy to achieve the target includes tree planting to increase carbon stocks, safeguarding protected forests and national parks as carbon stores, and protecting peatlands which have emission potential 20 times higher than ordinary soil.
However, he admitted that the major challenge lies in funding. According to expert calculations, around Rp204 trillion is required to achieve the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target, while the ministry’s current APBN is around Rp6 trillion per year.