Joe Biden Says Jakarta Will Sink, This Is Anies Baswedan's Reaction

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan responded to US President Joe Biden's statement that Jakarta would sink in the next few years.

According to Anies in a webinar recorded by the Bandung Institute of Technology, Tuesday, August 10, Biden's statement was for the conversion of America's mindset (paradigm) from the mindset of President Donald Trump's era.

In his statement, Biden is actually inviting America and the whole world to change the economic paradigm that wants economic sustainability to be in harmony with nature conservation.

"Joe Biden is inviting America to do what we call a paradigmatic conversion. Because we know that America's position in the previous few years was completely opposite," Anies said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, August 11.

"This is in line with one of the main roles of Joe Biden who criticized the end of Trump's era in the previous leadership. Trump has arguably marginalized ecological considerations, considering environmental regulation as an obstacle to economic growth," said Anies.

The former Minister of Education and Culture said that Biden's statement that predicted Jakarta would sink could not be interpreted simply.

In addition to inviting America and other countries to change the pattern of thinking in the economy, Biden's statement, according to him, gives a sign that Indonesia is a concern of the international community and is considered important as a place that shows the health of the earth's ecosystem.

By mentioning that Jakarta will sink, according to Anies, it can be used for Indonesia to speak out loud in international forums about concern and commitment to the environment.

"We are trying to encourage cooperation to create greener policies at the city level to ensure that human beings can live decently, can coexist with nature and nature is sustainable," said Anies. Biden begins to address the issue of climate change by telling how it has the same harmful impact on all countries.

"Climate challenges have accelerated instability in our own country and around the world," Biden said.

More common and more lethal extreme weather events, food and water insecurity and rising sea levels, Biden said, are driving climate change and driving greater migration and pose fundamental risks to the most vulnerable communities.