Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia during the S20 High Level Policy Webinar on Just Energy Transition, at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, March 17, 2022

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Every country has different challenges and needs in transforming energy system. Energy transition is not only about shifting the use of fossil fuel to renewable energy, but it also concerns a very complex characteristic, starting from science and technology to social, economic, and environmental aspects

Ladies and gentlemen,

The energy transition will change many things, such as jobs, development scenario, business orientation, and so on. Therefore, viable strategies and mechanisms are needed to identify existing and upcoming challenges, so that a just and even low carbon energy transition can be realized smoothly.

I observe three big challenges in energy transition that need our attention. First, access to clean energy. We are facing the reality that not all global citizens have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy. We have to encourage the provision of clean energy for all, especially energy used for electrification and clean cooking. Leaving no one behind.

The second challenge is related to funding. Transition process needs a huge funding source; energy transition needs new projects, which means that new investment is needed. Therefore, a viable funding mechanism is needed to create economic value, competitive price, without burdening the people.

The third challenge is supports for research and technology. Energy transition needs the role of science and technology to create new technology that is more efficient and competitive in order to reduce the cost and to increase added value of the products generated from renewable new energy industry. Additionally, various competencies and skills need to be prepared from basic education up to universities, hence excellent human resources will be available to support the energy transition.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am optimistic that despite all those challenges, energy transition will open up a number of wide opportunities. Our capability to address the challenges of energy transition will open up new opportunities and job opportunities, increase the needs of skills in technology innovation and digitalization, open up new economic opportunities, a green economy to speed up global recovery.

To that end, the G20 is hoped to bridge and encourage developing and developed countries in the G20 membership to accelerate energy transition process, to strengthen global energy system that is just and sustainable within a global agreement. Countries that bear a huge burden must be supported and provided with ease. Countries that are ready may take action first while supporting other countries that are not ready yet. We have to create more collaborations to ease access to affordable energy services, create technology innovation as well as breakthrough in funding, and to formulate consistent and sustainable strategy.

Lastly, I fervently hope that this webinar will create notions that can be implemented to achieve a robust and focused global agreement to realize an ecosystem of just energy transition.

Thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (AW/HD/MUR)