JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Ahead of the G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, the Civil Society Forum for Foreign Policy has urged President Joko Widodo to strengthen his commitment to the Paris Agreement. Without the government’s bold steps, the agreement will not be reached, especially concerning reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It was conveyed during a media conference by the Civil Society Forum on Foreign Policy (ICFP) in Jakarta, Thursday (6/7).

ICFP consists of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (Walhi), Transformasi untuk Keadilan (TuK), Prakarsa, Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Migrant Care, Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), and Transparency International Indonesia (TII). “We only have about three years to make sure to reach the target of the Paris Agreement. So, the government does not have many options and has to work extra hard”, said a researcher from TuK Indonesia, Jalal.

The G-20 Summit in Hamburg is held today until tomorrow. From the data from the Brown to Green report, Indonesia is the country with the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions (up to 1,000 megatons carbon dioxide equivalent) among the G-20 members. The emissions from energy, waste, industry, supporting activities, forestry, and others have contributed a huge gas emissions amount (Kompas, 5/7). According to Jalal, the emissions increase has occurred because both the government and companies have made the environment a place to dump emission waste. “If the company is obliged to provide a report on the impact, the government can make a selection which is still good and which is bad. If it is bad, yes, do not just extend or revoke the permit,” said Jalal.

Head of the Department of Campaign and Network Expansion of Walhi, Khalisah Khalid, said the government had made various efforts to reduce emissions, such as overcoming forest and land fires and restoration of peatlands. However, this is considered insufficient because natural resources cannot be adequately protected.

“Monopolistic practices by corporations will continue to be carried out and will continue to threaten so that the climate crisis is inevitable. The Paris Agreement will also not be achieved,” said Khalid. Director-General of Climate Change Control at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Nur Masripatin, said that his party acknowledged that Indonesia’s current commitment was insufficient from global needs. However, the government has specific targets for reaching the Paris Agreement. “There have been many efforts made, although there are several obstacles, such as funding. However, it has also coordinated with several related ministries,” said Nur.