Indonesian civil society urges government to minimise climate impacts and demand global action at COP28

Jakarta – Nineteen Indonesian civil society organisations issued an urgent appeal to the Indonesian government and the world during the 28th UN Climate Conference (COP 28). The climate crisis is a significant concern, mainly because of its tangible impacts in Indonesia, including floods, typhoons, droughts, and damage to marine ecosystems. As an archipelago, Indonesia is ranked third highest in vulnerability to climate crisis.

During COP 28, Indonesian civil society called for immediate action to maintain justice. They emphasised the need for assistance to the most affected countries and communities and the strengthening of climate commitments (NDCs) based on the results of the Global Stocktake. The call also includes adopting global targets to phase out fossil fuels, restore natural ecosystems, and make systemic changes in food production, energy and development.

Another focus is the importance of recognising the role and rights of indigenous peoples and paying attention to local solutions to climate change. The call also highlights the inadequacy of global commitments to rising emissions and the lack of financial support for adaptation.

Calls to the Delegation of the Republic of Indonesia included concrete steps such as returning to the field, strengthening the ambition of the NDC, halting climate-damaging development projects, and implementing a just energy transition. Civil society also emphasises the need for human rights protection in mitigation and adaptation activities and the channelling of Loss and Damage funds to the local level. Read the full demands here.

Greenpeace Indonesia, Central Kalimantan Legal Aid Foundation, Save Our Borneo, and the Indonesian Forum for Environment visited food estate sites in Central Kalimantan that are considered failures.

Activists parody the Indonesian president’s food estate policy by playing out a banquet scene featuring President Joko Widodo (second left) and the 2024 presidential candidates Anies Baswedan (right), Prabowo Subianto (second right) and Ganjar Pranowo (left) at the food estate project area in Gunung Mas, Central Kalimantan on 2 December 2023.  Photo: Jurnasyanto Sukarno/Greenpeace

Activists returned to the site of an environmental controversy to satirise Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s troubled flagship food estate initiative. The president had highlighted this program in his recent address to the United Nations climate summit in Dubai. During COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, in a session titled “Transforming Food Systems in the Face of Climate Change,” President Jokowi called for financial and technological assistance to advance expansive food estates. Asserting that such investments in Indonesia could meet worldwide food requirements, he also suggested the conversion of food into biofuel, specifically biodiesel and bioethanol. (nsh)

Banner photo: ©Jurnasyanto Sukarno/Greenpeace

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