Jakarta – Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, renewable energy activists and advocates in Indonesia are calling for the country to set ambitious targets to double clean energy capacity and end dependence on fossil fuels.
To achieve a just and inclusive energy transition, activists argued on Monday, 14 April, that Indonesia urgently needs to pursue higher transition targets with only 14.1 per cent renewable energy contribution in the national mix.
In a meeting involving more than 200 energy reformers, Suriadi Darmoko, Field Organiser of 350.org Indonesia, asserted that COP30 is crucial for the country to ensure a rapid, fully-funded and just transition.
“We need COP30 to ensure that global renewable energy capacity can be doubled by 2030, as well as end the exploitative practices and use of fossil fuels that have damaged the climate,” he said.
The activists also highlighted the success of community-based projects that can be used as examples, such as installing solar panels at SMA Muhammadiyah 4 Bengkulu. Sutanpri from the school revealed that through a public donation of IDR 80 million from 400 donors, their school has now supplied electricity for computer labs and security systems, a potential model to be replicated in more than 1,400 Muhammadiyah schools across Indonesia.
Indonesia’s Ambassador to Brazil, Edi Yusup, underlined the importance of access to electricity as a “gateway to economic development”.
He emphasised that a successful energy transition in Indonesia will benefit the industrial sector and improve society’s overall welfare. Yusup encouraged the younger generation to continue developing innovative initiatives and spreading the lessons learnt from Indonesia’s renewable energy successes internationally, especially to their counterparts in Brazil.
Ahead of COP30, Indonesian leaders and activists are also calling for ambitious national emission reduction targets and for the latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to prioritise the multiplication of renewable energy capacity.
They hope these commitments will not only change Indonesia’s energy landscape but also strengthen its position in global climate negotiations to achieve net-zero emissions before 2060. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2024)
