Hello, MADANI Friends!
The Government of Indonesia is currently preparing its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC). The SNDC is Indonesia’s latest climate commitment document, which will update the previous Enhanced NDC. In essence, the NDC represents Indonesia’s pledge to address climate change in line with the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius—and ideally not exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
The NDC includes both greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets and efforts to strengthen community resilience to the impacts of climate change—commonly referred to as mitigation and adaptation targets.
The SNDC currently under development must be more ambitious, as existing commitments are not yet sufficient to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Moreover, communities most vulnerable to climate impacts are often unheard or insufficiently considered in the drafting process. As a result, adaptation policies frequently fall short of being fair or responsive to their actual needs.
To ensure that the SNDC is both more ambitious and more equitable, there are six key areas that must be addressed:
1. Identifying and Recognizing the Needs of Vulnerable Groups
The SNDC must clearly identify and acknowledge the vulnerabilities and specific needs of groups such as Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, older persons, traditional fishers, smallholder farmers, youth, workers, and informal laborers. Adaptation strategies must be tailored to their conditions and realities. For example, coastal adaptation measures should take into account the livelihoods of traditional fishers and women in fishing communities.
2. Protecting the Rights of Vulnerable Groups
The SNDC must commit to protecting the fundamental rights of vulnerable groups, including the right to housing, food security, access to economic resources, land rights, and the implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous and local communities. Recognition and protection of these rights are essential for ensuring effective and just adaptation.
3. Inclusion and Participation
The formulation of adaptation policies and strategies must be inclusive, involving vulnerable groups at every stage—from planning and implementation to monitoring and evaluation. Meaningful community participation will improve the effectiveness of adaptation measures and ensure they are appropriately targeted.
4. Fair Distribution of Responsibilities and Benefits
The SNDC must ensure a fair distribution of responsibilities and benefits in accordance with the capacities and capabilities of different stakeholders. Vulnerable groups should receive the greatest benefits and bear the least burden from adaptation and mitigation measures.
5. Restorative Justice and Compensation
The SNDC should incorporate principles of restorative justice to address climate-related losses and damages, taking into account the specific needs of vulnerable groups—including cases of maladaptation or adverse impacts arising from mitigation actions.
6. Monitoring and Evaluation
The SNDC must establish a strong monitoring and evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of adaptation programs. Evaluations should examine how policies affect the daily lives of vulnerable communities and measure progress in reducing their vulnerability.
By incorporating these recommendations, the SNDC can become more ambitious and equitable—better equipped to protect all segments of society from the impacts of climate change.
