Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Eddy Soeparno has urged that the Climate Change Management Bill be initiated immediately as a national legal basis for addressing the increasingly apparent threat of climate change. The increasing intensity of hydrometeorological disasters and the continuing deterioration in air quality are strong signals for Indonesia to strengthen its response to the climate crisis.
According to Eddy, the enactment of special legislation on Monday, October 13, will be an important milestone in ensuring that Indonesia’s climate policy has a clear, consistent, and coordinated direction across sectors.
He said that Indonesia needs a strong legal framework so that various climate change mitigation and adaptation policies do not run independently of each other. He highlighted the weak coordination between ministries in the implementation of the carbon economy and clean energy transition.
“Currently, businesses that want to get involved in the carbon sector have to deal with more than ten ministries and agencies. This situation is inefficient and hinders our efforts to accelerate the energy transition,” he said.
Eddy believes that establishing a single cross-sectoral authority is urgently needed to ensure Indonesia’s climate policies gain international credibility and open up opportunities for green investment. “With integrated governance, Indonesia can demonstrate its seriousness in addressing the climate crisis and expand access to global funding,” he said.
Bill for policy clarity and consistency
According to Eddy, the Climate Change Management Bill is expected to address three fundamental issues that have long overshadowed national climate management: policy coordination, policy clarity, and policy consistency. He believes that without clear policy direction and coordination between institutions, efforts to achieve decarbonization, energy transition, and green economic development will struggle to meet the set targets.
Eddy reminded us that the impact of climate change is no longer long-term, but is already being felt directly by the community. Weather anomalies, major flooding, and increased air pollution demonstrate the urgency of concrete action.
“We have witnessed firsthand how floods, extreme droughts, and declining air quality have occurred in various regions. This is no longer a global issue that is far from us, but a reality that demands swift and integrated policies,” he said.
He added that Indonesia must dare to place climate issues as a national priority, not just an environmental agenda. “This is about the future of the nation’s economy, society, and health,” he concluded. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2024)
