Speech At The UN General Assembly, President Prabowo Ensures Indonesia Is Ready To Face Climate Change And Steps On Gas Towards Renewable Energy

Presiden Prabowo Subianto menyampaikan isi energi baru terbarukan saat pidato di sidang PBB. (IST)

JAKARTA President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto emphasized to the world that Indonesia will not wait to move to face the climate crisis. As the largest archipelagic country in the world, Indonesia has felt firsthand the impact of climate change, especially the threat of sea level rise.

The sea surface on the northern coast of the capital city rises five centimeters every year. Imagine in the next 10 years, 20 years," Prabowo said in a speech at the UN General Assembly, New York, Monday, September 22 local time.

The threat forced the government to build a 480-kilometer-long giant embankment which is expected to be completed in two decades. "We have no choice. We have to start now," he said.

Prabowo emphasized Indonesia's commitment to fulfill the obligations of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Net zero emissions targets are set at 2060, but he is optimistic that Indonesia can achieve them more quickly. Rehabilitation of 12 million hectares of damaged forests, reduction of forest degradation, and creation of green jobs are key steps.

"Indonesia is moving firmly from fossil fuel-based development to renewable energy-based development," Prabowo said. Starting next year, the majority of the additional national power generation capacity will come from renewable energy.

The big goal, he continued, was clear: to lift all people from poverty and at the same time place Indonesia as the center of food, energy and water security solutions in the world.