Ask Local Government To Respond To Climate Change Issues, Deputy Minister Of Home Affairs: Suddenly Floods, Suddenly Landslides

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto emphasized the importance of the role of local governments (Pemda) in responding to the issue of climate change.

"Ladies and gentlemen, of course we can feel the impact of this global coiling. As a former regional head, which haunts regional heads throughout Indonesia is now the same. Suddenly floods, suddenly dry, suddenly landslides, and so on. Harvest failure and so on. So global pooling is close to our daily lives," Bima said in his statement in Jakarta, Thursday, confiscated by Antara.

He conveyed this when he was a keynote speaker at the Nusantara Energy Forum at the NT Tower 5th Floor, Jakarta, Wednesday, August 20.

Bima explained, based on the data he obtained, the largest carbon emission contributor sector in Indonesia came from the processing industry.

Other sectors include the procurement of electricity and gas, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. In addition, transportation also contributes significant emissions, plus waste and waste problems that have not yet been handled optimally.

Furthermore, Bima explained that Indonesia has great potential for new and renewable energy (EBT), but its utilization is still far from optimal. Of the total water power potential of 95 gigawatts, only about 6.7 gigawatts have been utilized. From the potential for bayu power of 155 gigawatts, only 0.2 gigawatts have been used, as well as solar energy, the utilization is still very small.

10 provinces that report that the achievement of the portion of new renewable energy in the portion of EBT in the energy mix in 2023 [which] has exceeded the target. Only 10 provinces. Bengkulu, South Sumatra (South Sumatra), North Sumatra (North Sumatra), Riau Islands (Riau Islands), Babel (Bangka Belitung Islands), DKI (South Sulawesi), West Java (West Java), DIY (Yogyakarta Special Region), North Sulawesi (North Sulawesi), and South Sulawesi (South Sulawesi), "he said.

In addition, Bima also encourages regions to start implementing green budgets that are environmentally-oriented. He hopes that this strategy can be implemented more widely.

"So the governor helps the city/district if there is development with a sustainable climate nuance. Cities/districts provide incentives for urban villages and so on. So the transfer of ecological-based budget is called," he said.

He reminded that Indonesia's success towards the vision of Indonesia Gold 2045 cannot be separated from its commitment to control carbon emissions. This commitment is realized through the target of reducing the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) to Net Zero Emission (NZE) according to the Paris Agreement which has been ratified in Law Number 16 of 2016.

NZE is a balance condition between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released and the amount that can be reabsorbed through simultaneous reduction in emissions and increased carbon absorption.

Bima also gave appreciation to a number of regions that were considered successful in presenting innovations in energy and environmental management. For example, the City of Surabaya with the Suroboyo Bus cost payment program using plastic bottle waste.

In Bali Province, the policy of banning the use of single-use plastics has been implemented. Banyuwangi Regency developed a conservation-based tourism village concept, while Balikpapan City organizes city forest zoning. Bekasi Regency utilizes Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) technology to process industrial waste.

Finally, Bima is optimistic that the presence of regional heads, which mostly come from the younger generation, will make environmental issues a common concern. That way, cross-party collaboration is expected to be stronger.

"So this is the political perspective, the perspective of the flock of power that makes us even more aware that this collaboration must be carried out by all," he said.