Bappenas: Indonesia's Economic Growth Must Be Accompanied By Fulfillment Of NZE's Commitment

Deputy for Maritime Affairs and Natural Resources of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Vivi Yulawati. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy for Maritime Affairs and Natural Resources of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Vivi Yulawati stated that Indonesia's economic growth must be accompanied by the fulfillment of net zero emissions (NZE) commitment.

"We cannot grow like the past because of global conditions (due to climate change, loss of biodiversity, as well as buildup of various waste and pollution) and we are also among those who follow the commitment to net zero emissions. So, we have to grow as high as possible, but we have to be cleaner, cleaner, cleaner. This is what then makes us have to transform economically," he said at the Indonesia Energy Transition Dialogue 2024 in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, November 4.

In the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries committed to limiting the average global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius (2C) above pre-industrial levels, and targeting 1.5 degrees (1.5C). Scientists have said that crossing the 1.5C limit risks releasing severe climate change effects on humans, nature and ecosystems.

Therefore, it is targeted to reduce carbon emissions (CO2) to net zero (net zero) by 2050.

On the other hand, Indonesia needs to increase economic growth considering that it has entered the category of middle-income countries for 30 years even though it had become the upper-middle class in 1997 and 2019, but returned to its original position because there was an economic crisis in 1998 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Generally, countries that are more than 30 years old in the same position will be trapped forever in that category. In order for Indonesia not to follow Argentina's steps, which are already trapped in that position, he continued, the government is targeting the achievement of the vision of Indonesia Gold 2045 to become a developed country.

Efforts to become a developed country are not only concerned with economic growth, but also needs to be accompanied by reducing carbon emissions.

"If we transform the economy with net zero emissions, the effort must be more large. When we talk about downstream natural resources, we talk about industrialization that should have happened yesterday, where we are not too bothered if we use coal (coal), now we can't (because coal is dirty energy due to a lot of generating greenhouse gas/GHG). Therefore, because we have to grow as high as possible, but cleaner, and we need transformation in all aspects, "said Vivi.

Indonesia itself is said to have prepared a second climate document or Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) according to current conditions. In the document, Indonesia is committed to reducing emissions by 2030, which is targeted at 31.89 percent with its own efforts and an increase of up to 43.2 percent if it gets international support.

"When we talk about the NDC, where we fulfill our commitments and now continue to be focused, to accelerate, of course it is also in line with the spirit of force, accelerating the achievement of net zero by many parties. Not only countries, but also various large companies," he said.

In the 2025-2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) which has become Law Number 59 of 2024, the government has also targeted a 93.5 percent reduction in GRK intensity by 2045.

"We have to transform towards clean energy, start leaving the coal, then develop various renewable energy. Of course, if we look at the development of technology, existing innovations, existing investments, of course this opens up our optimism to move in a cleaner direction," he said.