The Government Ensures That Zero Carbon Emissions Are Achieved Without Disturbing Economic Growth

Illustration of carbon gas emissions (Photo: between)

JAKARTA - The government ensures that Indonesia's zero carbon emission target will be achieved without sacrificing economic growth.

According to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, currently Indonesia's carbon per capita emissions only reach 2.3 tons per year or lower than the world average of 4.5 tons per capita per year.

"We can achieve zero carbon emissions by 2060 and can be faster. But we don't want our economic growth to be disrupted," Luhut said, quoting Antara.

Indonesia's carbon per capita emissions are also lower than developed countries which can reach 15 tons per capita per year.

However, Indonesia's amount of carbon emissions can be reduced gradually without sacrificing economic growth.

He revealed that Indonesia's steps to reduce carbon emissions include reducing 39 percent of waste dumped into the sea, establishing waste processing points that are targeted to be able to process 30 thousand tons of waste per day, replanting mangroves on 600 thousand hectares of land, and energy transition.

Currently, Indonesia's power source is still supplied by coal Steam Power Plants (PLTU), but in the future, Luhut is optimistic that electricity sources can slowly be supplied by power plants from new and renewable energy (EBT).

By ensuring that electricity needs are met from more environmentally friendly sources, Indonesia can achieve its target of becoming a high-income country by 2045.

Technology is growing very rapidly. I see, it is not impossible that one day coal (as a source of PLTU) will not be a problem anymore, because carbon emissions can be captured," Luhut explained.

Luhut said the potential for electricity from EBT was 37 gigawatts (gw) and it could reach 3600 of me from the optimization of solar panels floating in lakes in Indonesia.

"Now the solar panels can only be used during the day, at night there are no batteries that can store electricity. If the technology develops, the (solar panels) will be usable," said Luhut.

He said that to become a developed country, the Indonesian economy, which is currently still growing by 5 percent, is also expected to reach 6 percent by 2026 with downstream natural resource products, including products originating from the sea.