President Jokowi Opens 2024 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum

President Jokowi opens the 2024 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (IISF) at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, Thursday (09/05). (Photo by: PR/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (09/05) officially opened the 2024 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (IISF), at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta.

The President highlighted the importance of a collaborative and humanitarian approach in combating climate change.

“The climate change problem will never be resolved as long as the world uses an economic approach, as long as the world only cares for the profits, and as long as the world only concerns about its ego,” he said.

Furthermore, efforts to resolve climate change require collaborative and humanitarian approaches, such as collaboration between developed and developing countries as well as a humanitarian approach to prevent the process from sacrificing the interests of the grassroots.

“Green economy goes beyond environmental protection, it also deals with creating prosperity for the people, sustainable prosperity for the people,” he said.

The President also reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to achieving net zero emission and contributing to a greener world, adding that Indonesia has an abundant green energy potential.

“Indonesia has an abundant green energy potential, reaching more than 3,600 gigawatts. In addition, the President said that Indonesia also has a floating solar power plant in Cirata Reservoir with a capacity of 192 megawatts peak, the largest in Southeast Asia and the third largest in the world.

In addition, the President stated, the country also boasts great potential in carbon sequestration as it has the largest mangrove forest in the world, covering an area of 3.3 million hectares and capable of capturing and storing carbon 8-12 times better than tropical rainforests. Indonesia also owns a green industrial area of 13,000 hectares which is also one of the largest green industrial areas in the world.

“However, all of these will have no significant impacts on accelerating the response to climate change impacts unless developed countries are willing to invest, unless research and technology are widely available, and unless funding schemes are provided in a way that eases the burden on developing countries,” he said.

President Jokowi also underscored that Indonesia welcomes partnerships with anyone to maximize the potential for a greener world, to provide equitable access to green energy, and to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

“I hope that this IISF forum can become a melting pot of knowledge, experience, and resources for us to collaborate in dealing with climate challenges. Because collaboration is not a choice, humanity is not an option, but a necessity and an obligation,” he said. (TGH/ABD) (FI/MMB)