OPEN LETTER
Jakarta, April 22, 2021
To
Mr. Ir. H. Joko Widodo,
President of the Republic of Indonesia
in Jakarta
Yours faithfully,
First of all, we appreciate your intention and effort to attend the 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate, at the invitation of United States President Joe Biden . Dear President, we sincerely hope that Indonesia can inspire and exemplify other countries at the forum, demonstrating its commitment and seriousness in taking climate adaptation and mitigation actions. We appreciate the positive achievements in recent years, such as the decline in Indonesia's deforestation and the establishment of the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH). We trust that your administration remains committed to fulfilling its Paris Commitments.
As part of the Indonesian people who are fighting alongside you to prevent the dangers of the climate crisis on people's lives and national development, we ask you to use this opportunity to reaffirm Indonesia's leadership in global efforts to address the climate crisis by:
Making a statement at this forum that Indonesia is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or even 2045 as a way to commemorate the history of the nation's struggle for independence. Dear Mr. President, we are already at a critical juncture and our current National Determined Contribution (NDC) target will still bring the earth's temperature to 3-4˚ C. As a tropical and archipelagic country, Indonesia is highly vulnerable to the threat of the climate crisis. This will certainly impact investment risks and also the welfare of the community. We believe that a more ambitious emission reduction commitment in line with the Paris Agreement from your leadership will open more investment opportunities with the G-7 countries and other countries present at the forum, given our very strategic position in contributing to preventing the climate crisis.
Affirming that Indonesia will accelerate the energy transition towards renewable energy. Dear Mr. President, we believe this forum is also the right moment to declare that Indonesia is not lagging behind the global energy system trend—that Indonesia will accelerate the energy transition towards renewable energy. Therefore, Indonesia must immediately implement a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants currently under construction to create space for renewable energy to develop in Indonesia. At the same time, this change will also help Indonesia in light of the agreement between the US and China that will provide green funds to assist developing countries in their energy transition. By improving its Environmental, Social, and Good Governance (ESG) and NDC sectors, Indonesia will undoubtedly be a prime recipient of funding under this cooperation scheme.
Ensuring that Indonesia doesn't get trapped in fossil fuel derivative solutions. Mr. President, we are deeply concerned about "new energy" policies, such as nuclear, gasified coal, and liquefied coal, which are essentially only a false solution because these sources will run out before Indonesia reaches 100 or 150 years old. All of these "new" energy sources also only distract Indonesia from developing renewable energy to fulfill its climate commitments and strengthen the resilience of the Indonesian people in facing the impacts of the climate crisis. To attract investment that truly builds the nation, in this forum, you must demonstrate Indonesia's seriousness in providing full space for renewable energy, improving palm oil plantation governance, ensuring sustainable certification, and ensuring the palm oil moratorium is truly implemented and continued.
Attracting more sustainable global investment. This is certainly a significant opportunity for Indonesia to increase its climate ambitions and become a global hub for low-carbon economic growth. Therefore, we urge the President to make the most of this forum to attract green investment to Indonesia. Furthermore, this forum is also a good opportunity for Indonesia to demand commitments from investors investing in Indonesia to utilize 100% renewable energy sources for their production processes. To make Indonesia more attractive to sustainable investors, Indonesia needs to implement clear and concrete disincentive schemes for fossil fuel development, both in the power generation, transportation, and industrial sectors, to create a favorable business climate for renewable energy.
Reaffirming Indonesia's commitment to reducing deforestation through comprehensive protection of natural forests. Mr. President, as members of the Indonesian people who are fighting alongside you to protect Indonesia's forests, we believe that the above commitment must continue through policy changes. The reduction in deforestation must be maintained through the preservation of primary and peat forests—one way is by removing these two land cover areas from permit areas and strengthening their protected status through a Presidential Regulation. This concrete step is crucial to elevate the commitment from the previous moratorium on forest and peat permits to a stronger legal framework. Indonesia will emerge as a leader in Nature-Based Solutions if your government commits to comprehensively protecting its remaining natural forests—both primary and secondary. Saving natural forests within forestry and plantation concessions through policy innovation and REDD+ incentives is also essential. Equally important, Indonesia must preserve the remaining mangrove forests and increase the rehabilitation of protected mangrove areas as a solution to reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to the impacts of the climate crisis.
Affirming Indonesia's commitment to preventing forest and peatland fires. Dear Mr. President, we believe that the Indonesian people can avoid the health hazards and enormous economic losses caused by forest and land fires if you commit to protecting and rehabilitating all peatland hydrological areas, strengthening policies that protect peatlands, and increasing the seriousness of law enforcement in forest and land fire incidents in a transparent manner.
Recognizing indigenous and local communities who manage natural resources as key stakeholders in achieving Indonesia's climate commitments. Dear Mr. President, indigenous and local communities still face significant tenure uncertainty despite the Indonesian government's implementation of policy initiatives to fulfill their rights, such as social forestry. Accelerating the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Law will help Indonesia fulfill not only its constitutional mandate to protect the security and livelihoods of its people, but also its international obligations, including the Paris Agreement, which mandates the protection of indigenous communities.
Establish a national Youth Council as a channel to unite youth movements from across communities and regions to channel the aspirations of the younger generation in planning for a more sustainable future. Welcoming the demographic bonus, Indonesia has significant opportunities and human resources from academia, startups, entrepreneurs , communities, and youth-initiated movements to be involved in sustainable development planning for Indonesia.
Dear Mr. President, we are writing this open letter for the benefit of the Indonesian people and your beloved family, who are all facing the threat of the climate crisis. We sincerely hope that the President will accept the input conveyed in this letter. We believe that Indonesia's sustainable development requires the commitment and cooperation of all parties.
Best regards,
