Jakarta—The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have initiated a project to bolster climate resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 100 villages across South Sumatra, UNOPS said in a statement on Monday, September 23.
This initiative, part of the National Climate Village (PROKLIM) program, seeks to address climate change impacts directly at the village level by promoting carbon-neutral practices and enhancing community resilience. Supported by the Temasek Foundation, the project aims to advance low-carbon agricultural development through technology and capital investments while increasing local communities’ climate awareness.
The project builds on the success of a recent pilot in Tangerang, Banten Province, which demonstrated significant improvements in climate adaptation and earned accolades from the MoEF.
“We hope that this project will lead to a significant improvement in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, directly benefiting the community and fostering the long-term sustainability of these efforts,” said Irawan Asaad, Director of Climate Change Adaptation at the MoEF.
Sharon Thangadurai, UNOPS Country Manager for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, emphasised the expected outcomes: “By the end of this project, we expect to see villages that are more resilient to fire, floods, droughts, and other climate-related challenges, households with improved incomes and better access to resources, and a reduction in harmful emissions that contribute to global warming.”
Edward Candra, Secretary of the South Sumatra Provincial Government, expressed his confidence that the collaboration “will lead to positive outcomes and address the challenge of climate change in the future.”
The PROKLIM initiative in South Sumatra aligns with Indonesia’s Long-Term Strategy on Low Carbon and Climate Resilience (LTS-LCCR) 2050, representing a significant step forward in the country’s commitment to sustainable development and climate action. (nsh)
