2 Minutes Anies 'Lectures' The United Nations On Carbon Emissions, Gutteres Responds: Imagine Your Time Is 4 Minutes!

Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Two proposals made by the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan were greeted by the interruption of the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) António Gutteres, who agreed and would follow up on the proposal.

This proposal was conveyed by the former Minister of Education and Culture in a virtual forum entitled Dialogue Between C40 Mayors and UN Secretary General-Advancing Carbon Neutrality and Resilent Recovery for Cities and Nations, which was held on Friday night, April 16. In this event, he gets two minutes of talk time.

The proposal was given in relation to what the UN could do to help and support programs to reduce carbon emissions and overcome the impacts of climate change. Thus, a better and more resilient environment can be created.

"Allow me to mention some of the assistance that cities need from the United Nations (UN). The UN has a big role to play in helping cities in the world. First of all, the UN can encourage countries to recognize the achievements of climate action. which is carried out at the city level and it needs to be counted as part of the National Determined Contribution (NDC) of climate action, "Anies was quoted as saying in a written statement from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, Saturday, April 17.

"Second, in the capacity of the United Nations, the UN is able to lend its hand to promote vertical and horizontal integration at the level of action and policy. Finally, in the framework of the COP 26, the UN can also support countries to develop a comprehensive architecture and funding structure to translate the benefits. -the benefits obtained by the national government in a global forum to be executed at the local level, "he continued.

In that opportunity, Anies also emphasized that DKI Jakarta has committed and carried out various climate actions. In fact, Jakarta itself has a target of zero emission by 2050.

"Jakarta has committed to be a Climate Resilient City. Currently, Jakarta has transformed from a car-based development to a transit-based development. Jakarta is leading the way in sustainable transport and mobility action and we want to continue further," he said.

Agreeing with Anies' proposal, António Gutteres also assessed that the UN could possibly do the two things proposed by the UN, so that this support is not just a discourse, but can be translated into programs from the central to local levels.

"I just want to say that we are fully prepared to do our best with the organizations and teams of UN representatives in various countries to fully go through global advocacy with governments to do exactly what you have suggested to us," said António Gutteres.

This spontaneous response from the UN Secretary General also prompted David Miller, Former Mayor of Toronto and Former Chair of the C40 Network, to appreciate Governor Anies' suggestion. "Governor Baswedan, you have succeeded in influencing the UN in just two minutes, imagine if you get four minutes," he concluded.