The Ministry Of Finance Talks About The Implementation Of Carbon Taxes Amid The Siege Of Pollution

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) has finally spoken about the implementation of the carbon tax in the midst of high Jakarta pollution lately. Through the Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) Febrio Kacaribu, the country's treasurer office provided information.

The 'carbon tax' is used to welcome people's concern to see emissions. The carbon tax is part of carbon pricing. So our way to involve the price of carbon emissions with its business value. It must be seen gradually into the economic sectors. The ready sector, that's what we prioritize (enter) into the roadmap," he told reporters in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 23.

According to Febrio, currently Indonesia's economic growth is in an encouraging trend. For this reason, he wants to ensure that the implementation of government regulations should not suppress positive catalysts.

"Carbon pricing can be done with a carbon tax, it can be done with the carbon market. We see that the closest thing we can push is the imposition of how to internalize this price from carbon with a carbon market. That's why by the end of the year we hope to launch the carbon market together with OJK, KLHK, especially its focus in the forestry sector," he continued.

Febrio explained that the Indonesian forestry sector is relatively quite advanced compared to many other countries. The reason is, Indonesia itself is indeed one of the most extensive forests in the world together with Brazil and Congo to encourage huge carbon credit potential.

"Thus we want to open up as many opportunities as possible by parties, not only the government but also the private sector for involvement in enforcing emissions by using projects in forests, forestry," he said.

Sri Mulyani's subordinate added that in recent years there have been a number of companies that have succeeded in conducting carbon trading with global parties. This initiative, which was then opened wider and clearly through a regulatory mechanism with the Ministry of Environment, to ensure that the carbon credit that was created and traded later is quality carbon credit.

"Credibility is clearly necessary so that we together in the world have the same concern that we are not doing greenwashing, but really carbon emissions will decrease with actual and credible projects," said Febrio.

VOI noted that the carbon tax was originally due to take effect in the second semester of 2022 before the G20 Summit in Bali. However, this implementation will not be implemented due to economic conditions and pressure factors due to the pandemic. It is planned that the carbon tax will be implemented in 2025.