The proud sovereign state of the Republic of Indonesia has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 29% by 2030, in line with the sustainable development goals, and up to 41% with foreign support including technology and finances in the trillions to help meet the commitment inscribed by ratifying to the Conference of Parties (COP) 21 Paris accord. The island and province of Bali hosted COP13 in 2007, the conference which helped to finalise the operational details of Kyoto Protocol Adaptation Fund, and assisted in formulating a ‘road map’ for negotiations on strengthening the United Nations (UN) climate change commitments.
Due to the prevalent pollution in the world, and given its pivotal geographic position in the global ocean conveyor belt (thermohaline circulation), Indonesia recognizes its role to play in combatting global climate change with its extensive tropical rainforests, bearing high biodiversity, high carbon stock values and energy and mineral resources. As a nation vulnerable to natural disasters, that will likely be intensified by climate change, especially in low-lying areas throughout the archipelago (group of islands). ocean-based climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts play critical strategic consideration in achieving climate resilience such as food, water and energy. Under the Indonesian Constitution, the nation strives for every person to have the right to enjoy a good and healthy environment as stipulated in one of the main bodies of the UN – the UN environment.” President Joko Widodo has expressed the desire of Indonesia to be a maritime powerhouse regionally, and water scarcity and climate change are imminent threats to this vision.
Indonesia’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) outlines the country’s transition to a low carbon future by describing the enhanced actions and the necessary enabling environment during the 2015-2019 period that will lay the foundation for more ambitious goals beyond 2020, contributing to the concerted effort to prevent increase in global temperature. For 2020 and beyond, Indonesia envisions achieving archipelagic climate resilience because of comprehensive adaptation and mitigation programs and disaster risk reduction strategies. Indonesia has set ambitious goals for sustainability related to production and consumption of food, water, and energy. Indonesia strives in this commission to work together with the Non-Aligned Movement goals to achieve empowerment, capacity building, improved provision of basic services in health and education, technological innovation, and sustainable natural resource management, in compliance with principles of good governance and broader constituency strengthening. The mono focus on finding alternatives to greenhouse gas emissions needs to be cognisant of the water crisis interlinked to climate change. To ensure environmental sustainability, we must preserve the source of life – water. The existing Indonesian Climate Change Trust Fund (ICCTF) like the COP21 seating does not have a programme for optimal water allocation.
ICCTF has been able to distribute fund for climate change programs in accordance with 2015-2019 National Mid-term Program Plan. In 2015, ICCTF received funding and commitment supports from various development partners, of which we are eternally grateful as well as funding support from State Revenues and Expenditure Budget (APBN) as a commitment of the Government of Indonesia to combat climate change. ICCTF has also been increasing its engagement with other parties, including private sector. the essential and interconnected role of water. Climate change, coupled with growing demand for water resources from agriculture, industry and cities, and increasing pollution in many areas, are accelerating a water crisis that can only be addressed by cross-sectoral, holistic planning and policies internationally, regionally and globally . While scarcity of fresh water hits many areas in Indonesia, we also witness chronic mismanagement of water resources, with numerous subjects misusing it and others using it for endeavours that contaminate water with threatens food security greatly.
The country is improving irrigation and agricultural practices – water in Indonesia is largely used for irrigation, but the availability of water for irrigating agriculture is on the decrease, therefore education and infrastructure for agriculture should be provided to persuade farmers to use modern irrigation systems that need less water. Many industries are already working under smarter systems, using automated watering technology that allows farmers to irrigate with much more precision and less waste. The new and renewable energy (NRE) in Indonesia has an overall potential to generate to a substantial amount of energy. In 2014, the Government Regulation 79 of the 2014 National Energy Policy sets a target to increase the provision of primary energy in Indonesia in 2025 with a growth of 17 % for the next 10 years. geothermal, bioenergy, for hydro-electric and for new energy. Indonesia is prone to natural disasters such as extreme weather, volcanic activity and earthquakes. With global climate change occurring these hazards will only worsen in severity and increase in frequency. These disasters have the potential to cause enormous economic and humanitarian upheaval.
To cope with the Indonesian water crisis, it is important to enact educational programs for the public about how to conserve water and consume less water and about the need to recycle and reuse water and to run education programs about proper hygiene and sanitation . As a global village, interconnected, it is our combined responsibilities to save water and teach others to save as well.
The target to hold the increase in global average temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius are in order with the innovation of renewable energy. This is not an issue that can be addressed by some nations and ignored by other countries. The independent Republic of Indonesia will support resolutions that are viable, effective and sustainable in mitigating the global climate change crisis and more urgently, address the issue of water security and its sub-consequence, the threat of food security as this speaks directly unto the everyday livelihoods of 252 Million Indonesians, across the expanse of 17000 Islands . With a growing urban population, drier and warmer climate and there is an increasing worldwide thirst. Our commitment to affordable and clean energy, clean water and sanitation and climate action will inform our position.
