[Press Release, June 28, 2024] The Indonesian government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the climate crisis by developing Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) documents, starting from the First NDC , Updated NDC , to the most recent, Enhanced NDC . However, we believe that the preparation of NDC documents in Indonesia has not fully reflected the principles of transparency and inclusive and meaningful participation, especially for affected communities and non-central government parties commonly referred to as Non-Party Stakeholders or NPS. In the momentum of preparing the Second NDC (SNDC) document, the Indonesian government must take serious steps to involve groups most at risk of climate change impacts such as traditional fishermen, farmers, indigenous communities, women, people with disabilities, children and the elderly in the decision-making process related to climate policy in Indonesia. This was conveyed by Nadia Hadad, Executive Director of MADANI Berkelanjutan, who fully supports vulnerable communities in voicing their aspirations in the Open Letter Protect the Indonesian People Today and Tomorrow: Ensure Meaningful Participation in the Preparation of Indonesia's Climate Commitment ( Second NDC ).
"Indonesia's second National Development Planning (NDC) document should not only be ambitious but also contain concrete commitments and be implemented through a participatory, inclusive, and fair process. To achieve this, the dimensions of climate justice, including distributive justice, recognitive justice, procedural justice, restorative-corrective justice, and gender justice, should be automatically implemented and provided by the government to fulfill the human rights of citizens as mandated by the constitution," Nadia added.
"Climate change adaptation and mitigation actions impact communities and the environment. Extreme weather, droughts, floods, tidal waves, land subsidence, and forest and land fires have displaced many people, claimed many lives, destroyed the livelihoods of fishermen, farmers, and indigenous communities, and even crippled local economies. People with disabilities, women, children, and the elderly, the urban and rural poor, smallholder farmers, and traditional fishers bear a much heavier burden due to the lack of capacity and support for them to survive," said Torry Kuswardono, Executive Director of the Pikul Foundation.
Armayanti Sanusi, Chair of Women's Solidarity, said, "In fact, the stages of preparing the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document still discriminate against women from being able to be meaningfully involved in all stages of planning to monitoring climate adaptation and mitigation in Indonesia. Furthermore, the Indonesian government still prioritizes mitigation schemes, rather than adaptation schemes that women need to survive climate crises and disasters. Even though women have the initiative and local knowledge to respond to the climate crisis situation in Indonesia. Geothermal energy downstream projects, Hydroelectric Power Plants (PLTA), which the government claims are a clean energy transition, actually place women in a multi-layered situation due to massive deprivation, eviction of women's living space, to the elimination of local knowledge and wisdom that creates various inequalities and feminization of structural impoverishment for women farmers, fisherwomen and indigenous women."
"The number of elderly and disabled people in Indonesia is around 50 million, and globally it is nearly 2 billion. It is only right that they be involved in all decision-making processes," said Farhan Helmy, President of the Indonesian Disability and Elderly Movement (DILANS) and Principal of the Thamrin School of Climate Change and Sustainability. "The process of preparing the second NDC did not demonstrate any support for climate justice for these vulnerable citizens. The principles of "No One Left Behind" and "Nothing About Us Without Us" were not visible, and perhaps not understood in their representation," Farhan added.
Meanwhile, coastal communities have also not been inclusively involved. "It is crucial to ensure that the voices of traditional fishers are heard and taken into account in addressing climate change, especially in the context of developing the Second National Development Planning (NDC). In fact, small-scale and traditional fishers are the group most impacted by climate change. A 2023 KNTI survey showed that climate change has reduced catches by 72%, reduced income by 83%, and increased the risk of accidents by 86%. Without the involvement of fishermen, the resulting policies risk being irrelevant and ineffective on the ground. Small-scale and traditional fishers want to be not only the objects of policy, but also the subjects actively involved in the decision-making process," emphasized Dani Setiawan, Chairman of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union (KNTI).
"The decline in the number of fishermen is due to the lack of interest among young people in becoming fishermen or working in the marine and fisheries sector. This is due to the increasing risks of working at sea, including those involved in fish and seaweed farming, due to climate change and declining marine and coastal health," explained Hendra Wiguna, Chairman of the Indonesian Coastal Youth and Student Association.
Hendra continued that the decline in the number of fishermen needs to be addressed immediately, as it will have far-reaching impacts, from food availability to the absorption of the workforce currently absorbed by the marine and fisheries sector. Therefore, in response to the impacts of climate change, serious action is needed from policymakers. Going forward, any policies related to climate change management must be discussed with stakeholders in the food sector, including fishermen, fish farmers, farmers, and livestock breeders.
"We hope that this involvement will result in policy products that meet the needs of communities affected by climate change and foster robust adaptation skills for young fishermen and other marine and fisheries business actors," Hendra added.
"Around 68 million young people dominate Indonesia's population. The future of young people, whom the government hopes will benefit from a demographic bonus, will be threatened by the worsening ecological disasters caused by climate change. Moreover, 70% of ecological disasters in Indonesia are caused by climate change. The number and intensity of these disasters will increase as the earth's temperature warms, heading towards the danger zone of 1.5 degrees Celsius. In the absence of legislation on climate mitigation and adaptation that prioritizes justice and meaningful public participation, all young people will become victims. The dream of a developed Indonesia will be dashed," said Decmonth of Extinction Rebellion Indonesia.
"Therefore, as part of the Indonesian community impacted by the climate crisis, we aspire to achieve climate justice for the Indonesian people and request that the Second National Development Planning (NDC) drafting process truly reflect inclusive and meaningful participation. Climate action designed without inclusive and meaningful participation with the community can bring greater harm," concluded Torry Kuswardono.
This open letter was addressed to the Minister of Environment and Forestry and signed by 32 civil society organizations actively involved in the climate crisis. These organizations include 350.org Indonesia, Aksi! for gender, social, and ecological justice, and the Empowerment Advocacy Workshop. and Village Development (APPeK Workshop), Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), Climate Rangers Jakarta, Extinction Rebellion Indonesia, Indonesian Women with Disabilities Association (HWDI), Participatory Mapping Network (JKPP), Urban Poor People's Network (JRMK), Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union (KNTI), Indonesian Coastal Youth and Student Union (KPPMPI), Koaksi Indonesia, Indonesian Women's Coalition for Justice and Democracy, People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA), Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA), Consortium for Participatory Study and Development (KONSEPSI), Institute for Community Empowerment and Assessment (LP2M), NTB Transform Institute, Indonesian Disability and Elderly Movement (DILANS), Indonesian HuMa Association, Healthy Soul Association (PJS), Indigenous Women's Association of the Archipelago (PEREMPUAN AMAN), Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, Women's Solidarity (SP), Thamrin School of Climate Change and Sustainability, ICCAs Indonesia Working Group (WGII), YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU), Humanist and Social Innovation Foundation (Humanis), Way Seputih Conservation Foundation (YKWS), Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Social Research and Development Foundation (YPPS), PIKUL Foundation [ ]
Media Contact:
Luluk Uliyah, Media and Stakeholder Engagement MADANI Berkelanjutan, luluk@arsip.madaniberkelanjutan.id
Torry Kuswardono, Executive Director of the Pikul Foundation, torry@pikul.id
Armayanti Sanusi, Chair of Women's Solidarity, armayantisanusi@solidaritasperempuan.org
– Farhan Helmy, President of the Indonesian Movement for the Disabled and Elderly (DILANS), farhan.helmy@dilansindonesia.org
Dani Setiawan, General Chairman of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union (KNTI), bungdani05@gmail.com
Hendra Wiguna as General Chair of the Indonesian Coastal Youth and Student Association (KPPMPI), hwiguna16@gmail.com
– Decmonth, Extinction Rebellion Indonesia, decmonthnuel@gmail.com
OPEN LETTER Protect the Indonesian People Today and Tomorrow.pdf
