Green Vision of Indonesia's Political Parties

• FORUM GRUP DISCUSSIAN
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Investment-Innovation-Productivity
TheGovernment
PlaysaKeyRole
Shinta Kamdani Widjaja
CEO OF SHINTESA GROUP
2014:
SeekingGreen
Leadership
Come on, do not be
naive. A President
can not work without
a support from
stakeholders.
Mahendra
Siregar
CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL
COORDINATION OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT
VOLUME II/ 2014

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• INTERVIEW
“Indonesia actually has high potential to utilize degraded land (DL)
for growing crop to develop bioethanol industry which is crucial to
improving energy independence/ security. Indonesia’s available DL in
convertible forest area for Crop to Energy is around 2.33 million ha
across provinces. Optimum bioethanol production, along with overall
energy efficiency improvement, can reduce Indonesia’s gasoline
import needs, thus maintaining Indonesia’s economic growth.
Indonesia needs to restart and increase their bioethanol production,
as bioethanol are a substitute for gasoline (ICCC, 2014)”.
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• EDITORIAL NOTES
In the year of 2014, Indonesia’s future is at a critical junture.
This year is filled with pressures in many areas that influence the
future of green initiatives. The new administration and political
transition will play a critical and strategic role in upholding
our national commitment to reduce GHG emission of 26%
by domestic resources and additional 15% with international
support by 2020. Any backpedalling of policy will lead us on
the path to un-sustainable economy and Indonesia would be
branded as uncommitted to fighting climate change.
Secondly, we cannot be ignorant about the international effort
that is working toward the global climate change agreement by
2015. This agreement is key to setting the future agenda that puts
and ends to the battle of short-term interest among developed
and developing countries. This agreement will also help translate
Indonesia’s national emissions reductions contribution into new
socio-economic dynamics at home, where a long-term vision
and strong foundations are needed to transform the economy
towards sustainable low emission development.
Thirdly, there is an interaction between globalization,
the advancement of technological capabilities and socio-
demographic changes that open up a new political landscape
that needs to rely less on the traditional fossil-fuel and limited
sources of energy. By 2030, this changing society will see
increasing demands from more than 50 millions productive
youth that will flood the workforce in Indonesia. This highlights
the benefits for tackling climate change now rather than later.
There is a hope that once we get through this period Indonesia
will agree to support a leadership that steers us into this new,
critical direction.
Keeping the interplay of all of the above in mind, this edition
of Green Investment and Innovation and Productivity (GIIP)
Magazine outlines the importance of green leadership the
economyandpolitics..Wehavebeenlisteningtomanyprominent
political figures that may be influential in transforming our
everyday lives. All believe that green ideas should be one of
the basic values of public policy development. Internalizing the
external cost incured on any green actions to others should be
treated as a necessary to protect the public interest. Eminent
personalities in this field have stated that the economy of the
future can be different to what we have seen and there are
many possible paths to the future. A sustainable low emission
development pathway could be the best option over the current
business-as-usual. Key stakeholders have expressed the importance
of sustainable and robust institutional arrangement to cope
with global and national political economy dynamics. This is a
critical step towards a rule-based governance that will lead us to
a substantive changes in promoting green agenda.
I truly believe that we will be going through large scale changes
in the coming years. It is an exciting place to be.
Once again, we are honored to share the work of so many
committed and thoughtful people. We look forward to our
2014:A Testing PERIoD
for Green Agenda
• EDITORIAL NOTES
readers’ responses. Feedback may be submitted to our
website, www.greeninvestmentindonesia.net. We are
open to interesting new material on the topics that
we covered. If you let us know, we hope to be able to
include your case study in upcoming issues of GIIP
Magazine.
We appreciate your support and are delighted to have
you as a reader of GIIP Magazine.
With warmest thanks,
Farhan Helmy
Farhan Helmy,
Editor in Chief
ICCC WIYOGA

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• CONTENTS
• CONTENTS
The 2014 General Elections are
getting closer, however up to
now there has been no politi-
cal party which has a clear and de-
tailed vision to address the climate
change issues.
Institutional climate change needs
to be regulated in an act that is
more binding and as a founda-
tion for the formulation and imple-
mentation of climate change
policy in the future.
Contents Interview
Green Insights
Green Pathways
Green Champions
64 Book Review
Carrots and Sticks: Unlock the Power of
Incentives to Get Things Done
66 Green Highlights
• 4th Generation Nuclear Technology
• Proper: Environmental Safeguard
for Business Activities in Indonesia
• A Report from the Indonesia Green
Infrastructure Summit 2014
84 Facts & Figures
88 Network Updates
91 Photo Gallery
Human+Nature
Harmony=Social Welfare
Promoting Green City
Scrutinizing Green
Vision
Climate Change
Laws
Updating Indonesia’s
Greenhouse Gas Abatement
Cost Curve
Sustainable Drugs Rehabilitation:
Drug Free, Criminal Free,
Productivity and Healthy Living.
Rachmat Witoelar Orbita
Roswintiarti
Moekti Handajani
Soejachmoen
Mahendra Siregar
Shinta Widjaja
Kamdani
28-45
8 21
46
50
nurularifin
JOKOWIDODO
TRI RISMAHARINI
RIDWAN KAMIL
Green Investment Magazine is joinly published by National Council on Climate
Change (DNPI) in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) and Matsushita Gobel Foundation (MGF).
Cover
Presidential
Candidates to
lead Indonesia in
2014-2019.
Contact Address:
Gedung BPPT I Lt. 16 Jalan M.H. Thamrin 8, Jakarta 10340, Indonesia
Tel. +62 21 3190 4635
www.greeninvestmentindonesia.net
@greenIIP greenIIP, email: greenIIP@ greeninvestmentindonesia.net
ADVISORY BOARD
Rachmat Witoelar,Agus Tagor,Agus
Purnomo,Amanda Katili Niode, Rachmat
Gobel, Jusman Syafii Djamal,Atsushi Sasaki,
Farhan Helmy (Secretary).
EDITORIAL BOARD
Farhan Helmy, Amanda Katili Niode,
Titi Murni Resdiana, Jun Ichihara, Manami
Iida, Ricky Rachmadi.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Farhan Helmy.
EDITORS
Stuart Bruce, Yudhiarma MK, AG Sofyan,
Fairuz Husaini, Soraya Soemadiredja.
CONTRIBUTORS
M Rudi Wahyono,Andira, Pristianto, Ghea,
Dewi Aprianti, MGI.
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sugara Adi, Masoed,Aldo.
PORTAL
Alfan Nasrulloh, Fahmi Januar.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Aviana MS Tjokro.
PROJECT ASSISTANTS
Irmawati Batavia, Jesslyn Tandella,Astri
Indirawati, Bramantyo Dewantoputra.
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• GREEN PATHWAYS
Political Leader
scrutinizing greenvision
• GREEN PATHWAYS
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• GREEN PATHWAYS
The 2014 general election is getting closer; however, up to now no political
party has a clear and detailed vision to address climate change issues. As
a developing country, the Indonesian parliament and government - which are
the embodiment and an extension of political parties - are often “trapped” by
the short, five-year-term political agenda: to win the general election. Therefore, the
transition of power often leads to changes in policy and government work
programs, which sometimes remain unfinished.
Despite other development programs not being implemented maximally, climate
change is usually only a regular issue at a political level, albeit it is a very significant
issue. Climate change cannot be separated from the environmental issues related
to human security, dependent on five factors, namely: military, politics, economics,
society, and environment.
Hence, environmental issues should be a major concern in any decision making
process because it involves the interests of many people, as mandated by the 1945
Constitution. Unfortunately, environmental issues are far from the political agenda
and are not yet part of the vision and mission of political parties.
In this edition, Green magazine presents its main report on Measuring the Green
Vision of Political Parties. Besides undertaking research using a number of
sources such as academics, NGOs and environmental activists, we also interview
the political party elites participating in the 2014 general elections.
• GREEN PATHWAYS
The Elections Commission, or KPU, has officially
decreed that fifteen political parties can contest the 2014
elections, consisting of twelve nationalparties and three Aceh-
based local parties. The national parties are: 1) the
National Democratic Party, or Nasdem; 2) the National
Awakening Party, or PKB; 3) the Prosperous Justice
Party, or PKS; 4) the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle, or PDI-P; 5) Golkar Party; 6) the Indonesia
Movement Party, or Gerindra; 7) the Democrat Party, or
PD; 8) the National Mandate Party, or PAN; 9) the
United Development Party, or PPP; 10) the People’s
Conscience Party, or Hanura; 11) the Crescent and Star
Party, or PBB; and, 12) the Indonesia Justice and Unity Party,
or PKPI.

Politicization of Environmental Issues
Political observer from the University of Indonesia, Arbi
Sanit, holds the view that political parties currently do
not have any breakthrough in addressing environmental
issues. “Political parties are not responsive to issues related
to climate change which give negative impacts to the general
public, especiallythepoor.If thisissuewaspoliticized, itwould
have a wider influence on public policy, legislation and law
enforcement,” he said.
According to him, the mitigation of climate change cannot
be separated from law enforcement efforts. Until now,
he pointedout, perpetrators of forest destruction do not
yet receive severe punishment. “They should be called
‘environmental criminals’, equivalent to corruptors, as the
damage they cause to forestshas long-term impacts and is in
no small way life-threatening,” he said.
Mitigationof climatechange,headded, isjusta slogan like’tree
planting campaign‘, ’take care of the environment‘, and so
on, which does not effectively encourage people, the
government and the political elites to jointly take concrete
action to protect the environment. ‘’A ceremonial campaign
is usually unsuccessful in building common awareness.
Raising awareness takes time and needs politicization of
environmental issues,’’ he said.
Environmentalist from Budi Luhur University, Ica Wulansari,
states that the issue of climate change is related to the right
for citizens to get protection from the state. Climate change
impacts on people’s lives in many ways, including food
security, increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, water
supply difficulties, extreme weather changes and health.
“Theimpact of climatechange needsseriousattention. Those
people most affected by climate change are the poor and less
educated. Climate change also impacts on people’s welfare,”
she said.
Some groups of people who are vulnerable to climate
change include farmers, fishermen, and those who live in the
highland areas that are threatened by landslides. “Political
parties should be aware that the issue of climate change also
refers to the protection and welfare of the public, because the
threat of climate change will have implications on lives
and absolute poverty,” said Ica in her paper, Environmental
Issues Must be Politicized.
Climate change, she said, could potentially lead to conflict,
when it comes to clean water, for instance. If the level of
supply of clean water is not anticipated, then the people,
particularly the poor, may have to purchase it at a high price.
In the long run, the issue can potentially lead to conflict due
to competition over water resources.
“Unfortunately, the issue of climate change only comes
under the spotlight at international events and becomes
the subject of academic papers, but there is a lack of real
effort to save people who are already victims of climate
change,” she said.
The big question is, do people, especially those who live in
disaster-prone areas, understand enough about the threat
of climate change?
Those already sensitive to climate change impacts will
have difficulties even understanding terms like mitigation
and adaptation.
“Hence, politicization of environmental issues as well
as the threat of climate change becomes very important
for political parties. On the other hand, society should be

aware enough to choose a political party which is concerned
about the environment. This is for the sake of saving the life
of the wider society, rather than voting for a power-oriented
party with a short-term interest,” she said.

Measuring commitment
In the 1990s, environmental issues were high profile issues in
many democratic countries. Today, these issues are now on
the political agenda of most countries. In fact, environmental
issues are an integral part of politics.
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• GREEN PATHWAYS • GREEN PATHWAYS
In Sweden, environmental issues have already been a
specific concern for political parties since the 1980s. The
Green Party gained a position in the Riksdag (parliament)
in the 1988 elections. However, it still faced a lot of
constraints given that environmental issues were still an elite
phenomenon for Sweden in the 1990s.
At that time, Swedish voters were not as fanatic to parties
as they are today. The Green Party found it difficult to
promote unpopular environmental issues.
On the contrary, in the United States, environmental issues
havebeena concernfor nationalleaders sincethegovernments
of President T. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Nixon.
Even so, the efforts of President Nixon mean that he is
often seen as the first leader to accommodate environmental
issues into popular policy, through the establishment of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. The EPA
advocated 1972’s Clean Air Law.
Under the EPA’s influence, the industry and the environment
have been working together in the US ever since. They are
no longer two opposing parties. Environmental awareness
in both American industry and consumers began to grow.
The US government provided incentives for companies
which imposed certain environmental standards. However,
the U.S. commitment to the environment is hampered by its
refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol which requires binding
emissions reductions.
“Those examples prove that climate change issues cannot be
separated from politics since they are a part of policy making
and its implementation. Therefore, it is very important to
know the attitude and commitment of political parties, as well
as their legislative members, regarding these issues. Our future
is in their hands,” said political observer Ray Rangkuti.
Thereareatleastthreeparameterstomeasure the commitment
of political parties to the environment. First, how far is
their political vision on environmental issues, or their so-
called ‘green politics’; second, is their response to climate
change issues reflected or not in their political vision,
mission, and platforms; and third, do they have a plan of
action to address climate change issues?
Based on our research, as well as from interviews with various
sources, we discovered that the vision of political parties
unfortunately does not really reflect those parameters.
Indeed, several parties, such as Nasdem, PKS, Golkar,
Gerindra and PD, put environmental issues in their
manifesto. These political parties consider conservation of
both natural resources and the environment important for
future generations, and therefore must be protected from
human greed. PKB is the only party which claims to be a
‘green’ party.
Some parties do express a concern about the environment,
and even place it specifically in their political platform.
PKS, for instance, says that environmental management and
conservation are part of development. PKS believes that
environmental development should be integrated with the
development of other sectors in order to achieve the right
balance.
Environmental disasters, such as floods and water
shortages, are aresultof humangreed,especiallywhenrelated
to the exploitation of natural resources that disregard the
balance of nature. Therefore, PKS considers it is important
to manage the environment as part of the effort to create a
balance between politics and the environment.
PKS points out that the management and preservation
of the environment includes at least four issues. First, the
utilization of natural resources should be devoted to the
public interest. Second, the public’s right for land, water and
air must be met by the government in a fair and responsible
way.
Third, coordination among components of society, public
awareness and law enforcement for any violation
of environmental destruction is key in environmental
development. Fourth, a clean water supply, forest and
watershed protection, river and coastal maintenance, and
integrated waste management.
Parties such as PAN, PPP, Hanura, PBB and PKPI do not
have a clear platform on the environment. These parties
concerns are more towards moral statements about the
foundation of state ideology: Pancasila and the 1945
Constitution, or moral attitudes such as openness, non-
discrimination, pluralism, religiousity, equality, the eradi-
cation of corruption, and the concept of nationalism. Certain
parties like PAN and PPP include Islam in their platforms:
Rahmatan lil al-alamin (a blessing for all creation).
Regarding their work programs, most of our sources could
not clearly explain what their party has done, or is doing,
related to climate change. These work programs tend to be
ceremonial events such as tree planting or beautiful-garden
competitions. Environmental issues also become part of
their campaign, especially when related to natural disasters:
floods, forest fires, landslides, drought and so on.
Other parties have similar environmental programs including
environmental hygiene maintenance, biopori making,
sending delegations to attend international environment
events, printed and electronic media campaigning, and
providing landfills and garbage carts.
Usually, such programs are held simultaneously with the
celebration of the party’s anniversary, or during the campaign
period prior to the elections, and it is a top down program,
starting from the national executive board, provincial board
or district board.
In connection with the work program related to
the environment, all political parties have such programs
even if they are only ceremonial and symbolic events.
Unfortunately, they do not have sustainable programs. In
general, the environmental concerns of political parties
are reflected in their vision, mission, platform and work
programs, but minimally when compared to other issues
such as politics, economy, infrastructure development,
socio-cultural, defense, security, foreign affairs, education,
employment, and so on. Most of the political parties do not
yet have detailed programs on the implementation of their
’green vision’.
“PPP has not specifically included environmental issues in
its work program. However, we interpret the party’s platform
to that direction, including ordering our cadres and local
government leaders from PPP to implement environmental
programs,” said PPP Chairperson, Suryadharma Ali.
In practice, he said, PPP sticks to its outline of struggle,
with programs as a guidance for party leaders and cadres in
accommodating, conducting, struggling for, and defending
the aspirations of the people, and to achieve the ideals of
the nation. At the same time, we keep to our faith, carry
out the Shari’a and transform Islamic values
in all aspects
of life, as a blessing for all creation. “It has a broad
meaning which also includes climate change,” he said.
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Suryadharma,whoisalsoReligiousAffairsMinisterandPPP’s
presidential candidate, said that PPP always actively reminds
its cadres in parliament to care for the environment. He
supports the idea to enact laws on climate change.
“The issue of climate change is our common task to save
the future of our children and grandchildren,” he said.
Indonesia, which actually has a huge energy potential,
on the contrary is facing an energy crisis due to a lack
of qualified energy management and less than optimal
excavation of its alternative energy resources, he said.
“As we know, energy demand is an absolute requirement for
the issues of economic growth and security, and
therefore energy becomes a determining factor for national
sustainable economic growth. The energy problem is a
crucial issue, then. Intensifying the use of alternative energies,
especially renewables and also non-food based bio energy, is
the main priority to fulfil energy demand,’’ he said.
Deputy Chairperson of PAN’s Advisory Board, AM Fatwa,
explained that the party’s platform states, “Political morality
based on religion that brings rahmatan lil al-alamin has a broad
meaning, including a mandate to cope with climate change.”
Fatwa, who is also Chairperson of the Parliamentary
Honorary Board, added that, although it is not explicitly
mentioned in the party’s platform, every level of the
party’s board, from the highest national level to the
district branch level, has environmental or climate change
programs. “We also support and encourage our cadres to
deliver any government policy regarding environmental
issues,” he said.
“Our vision is to achieve a just and prosperous civil society,
good and clean governance and a democratic, sovereign
Indonesia which is blessed by the Almighty God. This has a
deep meaning, and I think the mandate for the preservation
of the environment has been included as well,” he said.
Based on that vision, PAN is extremely consistent on
environmental issues, he said referring to the issue of flood
in Jakarta. According to him, floods in Jakarta cannot be
handled by the Jakarta provincial government alone.
‘’The central government must be involved in tackling floods
in Jakarta,’’ he said, adding that President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono should make a definite procedure regarding
disaster mitigation in Jakarta.
PAN also fights for environmental preservation. “We believe
that the environment is on loan from the future generation,
and that must be protected from human greed. PAN wants
agrarian reform, so that every citizen has access to
land. There must be a limitation on land possession.
Consistent implementation of the Agrarian Laws and
recognition of customary rights should be the initial steps to
manage land in Indonesia,” he said.
Secretary General of theNational Democrat Nasdem Party
Patrice Rio Capella said his party included environmental
issues in its Restoration program, which consists of three
issues. First, restoration of efforts to build ideal leadership,
a spirit of mutual assistance, and public trust in government
institutions.
Second, the restoration of people’s lives, including building
movements around good values, national spirit, solidarity,
local wisdom and productive work ethics, he said.
Third, restoration of international policy to build a new
world balance which is more just, peaceful and protects the
environment. “In this issue, we strictly position ourselves to
care for the environment,’’ he said.
PKB has a more explicit program on environmental issues.
The party has an environmental platform, claims to be a
‘green party’, and fights to achieve a balanced ecosystem,
natural resources management for all, and prosperity for the
future generation.
Chairperson of the PKB faction in parliament, Marwan Jafar,
said that the strategic agenda of PKB is that of a green party,
including thorough evaluation of legislative products related
to natural resource management, and of both existing
and new mining contracts between private companies and
the government; and for the sake of the people’s welfare,
consistently advocating for groups of people who are the
victims of the unfair management of natural resources.
PKB also supports efforts to significantly reduce the use
of non-renewable energy by further exploring renewables.
The party has also become a pioneer for activities related
to land rehabilitation, the rescue of ecosystems, energy
efficiency, and it encourages pilot projects for natural
resource management based on models of local wisdom, he
said.
Vice Chair of Parliament’s Commission VII, Daryatmo
from PDIP, said that of PDIP’s ten development principles,
the first principle covers protection of the environment
and natural resources, and consistent spatial planning. The
second principle is to strengthen the people’s economy
through the management of production systems, agriculture
reform, protection, market access and modals, he said.
The third principle, he said, covers environment-oriented
development, and the fourth is the implementation of policy
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that will direct political budgets to environmental issues.
‘’PDIP understands about the environment and does not
drop this issue in the waste basket,’’ he said, adding, ‘’It
requires budget consolidation for each of these sectors.’’
Golkar Chairperson for Energy and Mineral Resources
Aziz Shamsuddin said that the party strives to achieve
a new, modern, united, peaceful and prosperous Indonesia
with religious, democratic, independent and patriotic
citizens.
“It is stipulated in Golkar’s vision that we do care about
efforts to control climate change and other environmental
issues. What the government has done through the National
Council for Climate Change brings much benefit to the
nation. Among other things, we are recognised more and
more ininternational environmental fora,” said Aziz, who
is also deputy Chairperson of Parliament’s Commission III.
Chairperson of the parliamentary Green Economy Caucus
Satya Widya Yudha, of Golkar, said that the impacts
of climate change have seriously affected Indonesia;
moreover, Indonesia is a tropical country and located on the
equatorial line where the temperature is increasingly hot.
Ironically, he said, there are still few policies on the
adaptation to climate change and the awareness of the
government, and also the public, about climate change is not
yet optimal.
Until now, the budget allocated for adaptation to climate
change is small. ‘’From a USD 13 billion fund allocated
for the environment, none is for adaptation,’’ he said.
In addition, he added, the regulations made
by parliament
do not reach the poor, ‘’There should be an identification of
problems which involves these people, so they know about
and understand the regulations.’’
He referred to research conducted by BBC Media Action
in cooperation with the British embassy showing that
communication campaigns related to climate change do not
reach rural communities.
The survey was carried out across 33,500 people in
Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan,
and Vietnam. The survey also discovered that, from
these countries, Indonesians received the least amount of
information about climate change.
A major impact of climate change is rising sea levels and as
a result, in some places the sea has covered the land, he said,
adding, ‘’We have already lost twenty small islands” .
Climate change, he said, could also influence economic
activity. The changes to the wet season cause many difficulties
to the farmers growing rice, ‘’As a result, rice productivity
is affected, therefore, climate change must be our common
concern,’’ he said.
Gerindra party claims to have a strategic environmental
program. “One of our priorities is to develop infrastructure
and preserve nature and the environment,” said Gerindra’s
Media Coordinator Ariseno.
“Our environmental program is included in the party’s
Program of Action. We have Six Programs of Action
programme of national transformation, and it is in the
fifth program,’’ he said.
The fifth program consists of six action plans.First, to
develop infrastructure throughout Indonesia, roads and
bridges, including 3,000km of new, modern highways, and
3,000 km of railroads, and seaports, airports, and electricity
and telecommunications cables.
Second, to speed up the construction of strategic
infrastructure, irrigation and fishing ports in all coastal
regions. Third, to develop infrastructure and supporting
facilities including a national industrial estate also covering
maritime and tourism industries.
Fourth, to rehabilitate 77 million hectares of damaged
forest through inter-cropping systems, and conservation of
biological diversity, protected areas, national parks and nature
reserves. Fifth, to prevent and crack down on perpetrators
of environmental pollution and protect flora and fauna as a
part of the nation’s assets. Sixth, to develop supporting
infrastructure in the outer islands.
“Gerinda dedicates our program of actions to the Indonesian
people. The program comes from within our team
of experts, who have worked for almost a year in order
to help Gerindra get a mandate from the people to lead
the nation for the next five years,” said Chairperson of
Gerindra’s Advisory Board Prabowo Subianto.
In more detail, Gerindra plans to preserve nature and the
environment through reforestation of 59 million hectares
of degraded forest, and conservation of biological diversity
and protected areas.
The party will also secure and rehabilitate watersheds,
prevent and crack down on perpetrators of environmental
pollution, and protect flora and fauna as part of the nation’s
assets.
“We have already shared our analysis a long time ago. The
current condition of our nation is a paradox, extraordinary
and does not make sense. We are a rich country, but the
people are poor,’’ he said.
Gerindra’s vice secretary general Aryo Djojohadikusumo
said it needs the participation of society to ensure the
program is successful. “Especially the young people, they
should play an active role in supporting efforts to solve the
nation’s problems.’’
According to Gerindra Chairperson Fadli Zon, the Six
Programs of Action are a result of studying the party’s
research led by Prof. Burhanuddin Abdullah.
“The Six Programs of Action actually derive from our
previous Eight Programs of Action, which have already
been launched. There is no change in the paradigm. It is an
improvement from the previous program. We do not include
things which have already been achieved for instance the
elimination of legal education materials,’’ he said.
Environmental programs of the Democrat Party are
part of the party’s programs on poverty reduction which
includes, among other things, independent rural community
empowerment, and a program that places the environment
as an integral part of development activities in rural
communities, said Herman Khoiron, a parliament member
from the Democrat Party.
“This program aims to involve environmental aspects in
poverty reduction activities,’’ he said.
According to him, the general purpose of the program
is to improve welfare and employment in rural communities
by encouraging them to be independent in decision-
making and rural development management, through the
sustainable management of environmental and natural
resources.
The Democrat Party, he said, has a strong commitment to
environmental issues, referring to the development concept
made by the government. “The concept of the development
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pillar is based on three factors: economy, social and
ecology.’’
The party’s platform on climate change is very clear:
environmental functions support sustainable development,
he said, adding, “Development should not destroy everything.
In the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the
development process is directed to four strands: pro-
poor, pro-job, pro-growth, and pro-environment.’’
‘’The party concept is in line with the government
concept,” he said. The party concept, he added, is carried out
by the government. The party does not have a special budget
to intervene in environmental projects; however, its policies
have been implemented by the government, he said.
“Ourconcerncanbeseenfrom,forexample,ourtreeplanting
program. We plant trees in Jakarta. We plant mangroves in
many places. This is just a small example, in fact. A bigger
example is our effort to encourage executives to promote
environment-oriented development,’’ he said.
On the other hand, he said, through parliament the
Democrat Party is supporting the Ministry of Agriculture to
adjust to patterns of climate change, for example, by adjusting
the pattern of planting. The Democrats have had a major
contribution to the policy making process, especially in
relation to the environment, because it has the largest number
of Members of Parliament, with 148, he said.
“A considerable achievement of SBY’s government is its
reorientation of forestry development, which emphasizes
planting rather than cutting down, as it used to be. The
One Billion Trees movement and the commitment to reduce
26% of carbon emissions is proof of the Democrat Party’s
seriousness towards the environment, he said, adding that,
‘’the moratorium on primary forest and peat land is our other
commitment.’’
There is no doubting the Democrat Party’s commitment to
go green and its pro-environment principles, ‘’What SBY has
done with those four development strategies should be the
foundation for the incoming leader to develop this country,’’
he said.
The party also actively encourages the government to make
efforts toreduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and supports
the transfer of environment friendly technology, one of
the conclusions of the Seminar on Climate Change and the
Environmental Platform held by the Democrat Party
Division for Policy Strategy Development in Jakarta in
September 2013.
In a press release, the Head of the Democrat Party Division
on Policy Strategy Development Farhan Effendi said that
the party needs to address climate change issues as this has
become a serious problem to which many other countries
in the world are already responding. “The Democrat
Party wants to contribute its thoughts and support efforts
to save the world, as promoted by President SBY in both
domestic and international fora,” he said.
The problem of climate change seriously impacts on people’s
lives, including in households with issues of clean water
supply, food production, agriculture, and the low quality of
the environment, he said, adding “If it is not anticipated,
we will all be impacted on by worsening environmental
degradation.’’
Therefore, the Democrat Party, he said, supports the
project to restrict the rise in average global temperature
to within two degrees Celsius, through mitigation and
adaptation as well as international cooperation on climate
change.
Hanura party does not have any program related to climate
change issues, according to Chairperson Yuddy Chrisnandi.
“Our mission is to build a national economy based on justice
and environmentally-oriented, and to provide business
opportunities and jobs in order to improve the income and
welfare of society, but we have no environmental program,’’
he said via his short message to Green Magazine.
PKS President Anis Matta claims his party is a pro-
environment one. PKS, he said, actively instructs its cadres
to fight for any environmental issue from energy to climate
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• GREEN PATHWAYS
change to carbon reduction, until the party’s position and
policies consider all environmental issues. “Issues related
to the environment, for instance energy and environmental
sustainability, should not be sacrificed for political issues,”
he said.
PKS Member of Parliament Herlini Amran said that her
party initiated education about climate change for students
at elementary schools.
The lessons on climate change, certainly, are taught in
a simple and easy way, she said, adding “It is part of an
introductory knowledge, not a subject to be examined.”
Regarding field programs, she said, PKS campaigns intensily
for the Spread a Thousand Plants of Love movement and
the PKS Environmental Care Program. In practice, for
example, the party asks every person to exchange three used
bottles for a basket of vegetables. The used bottles will be
recycled by home industries, she said.
The Chairperson of PBB’s Environmental Welfare Iwan
Aminudin, said that his party has at least seven pro-
grams related to environmental issues. The first
manages renewable natural resources based on sustainable
principles; the second manages unendurable natural
resources based on efficiency principles; the third looks at
converting depreciation of natural resources into physical
forms such as road construction and manufacture, human
resources such as education, skills and knowledge, and
institutional empowerment through clean governance.
The fourth program is to develop regional and international
cooperation on environmental issues by becoming directly
involvedinthoseactivities;thefifth istoencourage government
institutions, environmental NGOs, and individuals to work
together so that individual development policies created by
technical institutions will be environment oriented; and the
sixth: law enforcement for environmental violations.
Chairperson of PBB MS Kaban says the threat of climate
change is becoming increasingly apparent in Indonesia,
therefore it needs integrated co-operation between
government institutions to deal with these issues. Phenomena
that appear due to climate change are related one to another,
he said.
Forinstance,hesaid, referringtolandclearance and landscape
management, ‘’This needs a united handling.”
The absence of integrated co-operation to address climate
change issues in Indonesia can be seen from the different
interpretations of institutions over fire spots and hot spots
in ground or forest fires, for instance. “The differences are
still sharp with these two issues,” he said.
Apart from these differences, he said, the potential amount of
hot spots will automatically decline if the numbers of those
who burn down forest to clear land is also reduced, thanks
to an increase in outreach efforts to society. “The tradition
to burn down forests to clear land is declining alongside an
increase in effort to educate the people, “ he said.
PKPI sees energy and environmental issues becoming
more complicated and putting more pressure on people’s
lives, especially the poor. “However, in a broad sense, society
must participate in efforts to address environmental
issues, especially global warming,” said PKPI expert staff
Monang iburian.
Therefore, headded, PKPI has campaigned forthecultivation
of the Jatropha plant in order to improve the income of
the people. “At the same time, this program is also about
improvement of the environment,” he said.
Jatropha grows easily anywhere, he said, whether in the
backyard or on unproductive land. A single seed needs at
least seven months to produce fruit ready to harvest. In
addition, this is easily developed further. It takes at least
seven months for the tree to produce ready-to-harvest fruit,
but then the tree will continue to produce fruit which can be
harvested every three days, he said.
According to Monang, Jatropha seeds can be used in
cooking stoves and is relatively cheap. One liter of jatropha
seed oil can be used for up to 15 hours of cooking, much
longer than using kerosene which will last only seven hours
for one liter. The price of jatropha seed oil is only Rp5,000 per
liter.
Currently, PKPI has 1,000 hectares of jatropha trees in West
Java, including in Jonggol and Ciamis districts. At least two
million people have been hired to manage these plantations,
he said, adding that the party plans to open new plantations
in Central and East Java.
PKPI provides the jatropha seeds for free to anyone who
wants to plant it, he said. PKPI through its major cadres will
help the people in cultivating the tree. In the mid and long
term, we expected that there will be a jatropha oil industry
under a plasma core system, he said..
Although this is a party program, the activity is available for
anyone, not just party members. Even members of other
parties can participate, he said. “Our aim is to improve
the lives of everyone, all Indonesian people, not
just PKPI members,” he said. •
• GREEN PATHWAYS
Institutional climate change needs to be regulated
in an act that isbinding and is a foundation for the
formulation and implementation ofclimate change policy in the
future.
Therefore, the existence of a Climate Change Act means three
essential things: first, it is a foundation for the long-term target
of framework setting, and short-term systemic implementation
towards a green economy; second, it is a mechanism of
governance for the institutionalization of measuring, reporting
and verification; and third, it encourages all parties to mobilize
potential resources domestically and overseas.
Several developed and developing countries have designed a
Climate Change Act in response to economic impacts and the
potential for the future. Among these are the European Union
countries including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China,
Colombia and the Philippines. Indonesia, with its numbers
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of both potential natural resources and manpower resources,
should have re-oriented its development strategy towards a
green economy, starting, as an entry point, with the legislation
of a Climate Change Act.
As an extension of a political party in parliament, several
members of Commission IX have urged parliamentary leaders
to set up a special committee on climate change. This move
is in response to a recommendation of the recent regional
legislators’ conference held in Bhutan on how to protect human
health from climate change.
The Indonesian parliament was represented by
four members who attended the conference. The four
were Suryachandra Soerapatti from PDIP, Nova Riyanti Joseph
from Democrat Party, Gandung Pardiman from Golkar
and Ledia Hanifa from PKS. In a press conference held at
parliament, they explained that the recommendation was a
result of the conference. Climate change is a large and varied
problem, said Suryachandra, adding, ‘’The chaos during the
rainy period, for instance, has turned the schedule of the
people upsidedown, such as the planting period, harvest time,
development projects and even the schedules of school and
work.’’
Currently, he said, almost everyone across the world has
experienced the impacts of climate change, and therefore,
the issue cannot be overcome alone. Indonesia has a
special body working on climate change called the National
Council for Climate Change, whose members represent
seventeen ministries and agencies. In addition, Indonesia
also has a health sector map to anticipate climate change, which
started from 2010 to 2030.
However, the problem in Indonesia is the lack of regulations
regarding climate change, and therefore, they urged the leaders
of parliament to set up a special committee on climate change.
In addition, the parliament also needs, as a priority, to propose
a draft bill on Mental Health. This is because many studies
have found that climate change impacts on human health, both
physically and mentally.
“We can learn from Sri Lanka, which approved a Mental
Health Law soon after the tsunami hit the country, or
India which has had one since 1987,’’ said Gandung
Pardiman. The government of Bhutan, he said, has made
behavioral changes associated with climate change the focus
of one of its programs.One example, he said, is a program
called Ecosan Pit Latrine, which processes urine and waste in
to fertilizer.
However, Member of Parliament from Commission VII,
overseeing environmental issues, Satya Widya Yudha, said
that before the discussion comes around to climate change
legislation, the government should merge the REDD+ Task
Force into one of the relevant ministries. “So there is a common
action and policy on climate change,’’ he said.
Satya also criticized the way the government is
handling issues related to climate change, as in many cases the
government does not involve members of parliament. For
instance, he said, the annual conference on climate change held
by UNFCCC which is attended by an Indonesian delegation.
‘’We do not know the objectives of the Indonesian delegation
at each conference, nor the result,’’ he said.
PDIP member of Commission XI Budimanta Arif asked the
government to review the REDD+ funding commitment
with the Norwegian government through a Memorandum of
Understanding signed in 2010, since the USD 1 billion grant
provided by the Norwegian government has been followed by
new commitments. ‘’A grant is a grant; it should not be followed
by various conditions that incriminate us,’’ he said. In addition,
based on the reports he had received, society was not getting
the optimum benefit from REDD+ projects in Indonesia.
In its press release, the National Council for Climate
Change commented carefully on the proposal, stating that the
main objective of the establishment of the REDD+ special
task force is to improve the management of Indonesia’s forests,
which are degrading. If it is to be maintained, then the status of
the Task Force must be strengthened in a Climate Change Act;
the act is needed as a legal umbrella.
Campaign Activity
Environmental issues get less attention in the programs of
political parties as these issues are considered ‘not sexy and not
attractive’ in grabbing people’s attention, said Executive
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FOTO PEMILU
Director of the Institute for Research, Education and
Economic and Social Affairs Kurniawan Zen. “Environmental
issues are only known by people with higher education,” he said
at the launch in February 2014 in Jakarta of a survey on Public
Perceptions of Environmental Issues and Political Parties in
the 2014 elections.
Director of Communication and Advocacy of the World Wild
Fund Indonesia Nyoman Iswarayoga made similar view. He
said the people are now bombarded with problems that make
them confused to distinguish which is more urgent to be solved
by future leaders.
A similar opinion is held by policy observer from the
University of Indonesia Andrinof Chaniago, who says,
‘’Environmental issues are issues for the upper middle
classes. Therefore, these issu-es are not popular in developing
countries such as Indonesia. In European countries the so
called ‘green party’ has emerged because the awareness of
society about the environment is already high. “
Unlike Indonesian people, European people think about things
beyond basic needs like clothes, housing and food. ‘’Most
Indonesian people still struggle to fulfill their basic needs, and
it means the quality of the people remains low, ‘’ he said.
Thus, environmental issues become the responsibility
of the elite and the educated classes. “Religious leaders actually
have animportantroleto educatepeople abouttheenvironment.
Do not just talk about heaven and hell, moreover saying
that the flood is a curse from God, while in fact it is also down
to human error. If the educated people or community figures
do not have a better understanding, how about the common
people then?” he said.
From March 15 to April 5, 2014, was the campaign period
for political parties to promote their programs and try to
win the legislative election that was held on April 9. Various
modes of campaigning will be launched, from flags, leaflets,
pamphlets, advertisements in the media to political rallies.
“It is normal for any political party to use various media for its
campaign. However, if it is concerned about climate change,
people can see this from the way they do their campaigns,’’
said Executive Director of Civil Society Circle Ray Rangkuti.
There are at least four indicators to see whether or not a
political party is concerned about climate change. First, do
they use more paper and plastic as their campaign material?
If so, then the party’s concern is low. Second, do they hold a
rally with cars and motorbikes? If so, then their concern is low.
Third, do they use wood or bamboo for their campaign? The
more they use this, the lower their concern. And fourth, does
their campaign damage or pollute the environment? The more
damage or pollution they make, the lower their concern for the
environment, he said.
“If it is proven that a party is not concerned about the
environment during the campaign, but they deny it, saying that
any deviation was beyond their responsibility, then this is just a
fetched excuse,’’ he said.
In fact, such deviation can be avoided if there are clear
instructions from the party. The campaign is the responsibility
of the party, and therefore any violation should be corrected by
the party. If the party cannot take care of its internal problems,
then how can it take care of the country, he said.
Considering the recent development of the issue of global
warming, each party should pay attention to climate change
issues, he said. ‘’Political parties must be smart in choosing their
campaign models and they should not damage the environment.
On the other hand, people must be critical and consider climate
change issues when they are deciding which political party to
vote for,’’ he said.
Cadre Recruitment
Another important issue is the recruitment of cadres who are
concerned about climate change. Very few political parties
place environmental experts or activists within their leadership
structure, or as legislative candidates, moreover presidential and
vice presidential candidates.
Names such as Rida Saleh, Idham Arsyad, and Berry Nahdian
Forqan are environmental activists who are nominated as
legislative candidates in the 2014 elections as members of the
House of Representatives and the Regional Representatives
Council.
It is not an easy path for these activitists to step towards a
parliamentary seat amidst the existing conspiracy between
political parties, the authorities and business people from the
extractives sector or environmentally destructive industry.
Various proposals have emerged in order to support them,
including holding conventions and the establishment of an
elections campaign team for them.
This issue came up in a discussion on ‘clean up the parliament
as a destroyer of the environment’ sponsored by the
Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI) during its 33rd
anniversary in Jakarta on October 17, 2013. Secretary General
of the Agrarian Reform Consortium Iwan Nurdin said that
until now no political party has a commitment nor agenda
on agrarian or environmental reform.
The common critera for their legislative candidates is usually
rich, famous, party cadres. Environmental activist is one of
the last criteria. If they are environmental activists, they should
support them: hold a convention, promote their agenda, etc, ‘’
he said.
Indonesian-based Greenpeace activist Teguh Surya said that
environmental activists who become legislative candidates have
abiggerchallengeasthey havetodeal with thetraditional groups
who commonly use money politics. ‘’Activist candidates must
dare to make a breakthrough. Do not use a conventional
campaign used by conventional politicians,’’ he said. Another
challenge is that, from fifteen political parties who took part in
the 2014 elections, 80% of parties have a direct commitment in
the extractive business.
The Chairperson of Indonesia Green United Chairil Shah said
it is necessary to set up an election winning team to support
the environmental activist candidates to formulate advocacy
strategies and campaigns. ‘’After they win, then the team
formulates an environmental agenda. At least there is a bit of
bargaining power,’’ he said.
WALHI National Executive Director Abetnego Tarigan invites
the public to examine the political-economic engagement with
natural resources  which causes various negative impacts, and
carries risks for future generations.
According to him, every citizen should play an active role to
clean up the government and parliament from those who would
ruin the environment and exploit natural resources. “They
make the people suffer for their own benefit,’’ he said.
He also called on the public, old and young, women and men,
to start looking at the agendas of political parties and legislative
candidates. “Also, be watchful of the actions of politicians and
bureaucrats,” he said.
Chairpersonof WALHI’s NationalCouncil Walhi Dada Sudardja
promised that WALHI, through its 28 provincial branches, will
work hard to strive for government restoration by, amongst
other things, pushing for environmental rights to be a part
of human rights.
Action Program
Political practices during the New Order era were
very centralized, anthropocentric and technocratic, as reflected
in the licensing mechanism for the utilization of natural
resources, and much of the time this had a significant role in
the destruction of the environment. The central government
monopolized knowledge and truth, ignoring local and
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• GREEN PATHWAYS
• GREEN PATHWAYS
traditional values. As a result, the local people became strangers
in their own homes.
In the Reformasi era, local autonomy mandates a decentralization
process, and it should be a good point. However, the reality is
not as beautiful as expected.
A study by the Coordinating Ministry for Economics shows that
in the last ten years, from 119 local regulations related to natural
resources, 60% are exploitation permits, 30% collaborative
action in management and utilization of natural resources,
and only 10% are for access rights and community control
over natural resources. This condition actually shows the local
governments’ ambition to increase its revenue. The study
illustrates the narrow- mindedness and narrow thinking at
the level of local government. It is decentralization instead of
devolution (Gatra magazine, July 2008).
The problem has become more serious since local election
mechanisms have been enforced. Political costs are more
expensive, and as a result the excessive exploitation of natural
resources becomes a prominent option. In this case, not only
local politicians are involved but national politicians as well.
Illegal logging and mining disputes are among the cases that
arise from that perspective.
Such a reality should awaken political parties to voice their
political awarenessaboutthe urgencyof ‘greenpolitics’. Political
parties have an important role to see the direction of align-
ment of development with the environment. Thus, political
parties can accomodate marginalised voices that tend to be
silent and environmental degradation that has been a symptom
of structural repression.
Therefore, the presence of a green party, or a party which holds
a green vision for Indonesia, is absolutely necessary given the
huge potential of natural resources across the nation. Indonesia
should have a strong foundation for environmental politics.
So far, the weakness of environmental politics can be seen
from the output of investment policy. The government too
easily allows investors to exploit natural resources without any
controls. As a result, environmental damage occurs everywhere
and, ironically, is not proportional to the increase of the welfare
of society.
It is time for green politics and the green party to perform, to
undertake real action within Indonesia’s political system, as the
amount of environmental damage and disasters in the country,
which between them increase the amount of poverty, requires
an intervention from green politics if the problem is to be
solved.
Up to the 2009 elections, only one political party declared itself
as a green party, which was PKB. Beyond PKB, very few parties
and their legislative candidates brought environmental issues in
to their campaigns. Most of them preferred other issues such
as free education, health services, democratization, corruption
eradication, etc. (Tribun-timur.com)
Although not mentioned explicitly in their party’s platforms, a
number of cadres from various political parties push climate
change issues in parliament. “Environmental issues are
a major issue related to the acceleration of forestry
products, which raises concerns of climate change
issues. The government must immediately respond to
this challenge, “ said Chairperson of Commission IV of the
House of Representatives, and PPP Secretary, General M.
Romahurmuziy.
According to him, besides environmental issues, land
use issues also put pressures on the forest
industrialists, considering the massive conversion of forested
land into industrial plantations, particularly palm oil. Indonesia’s
position as the world’s biggest crude palm oil (CPO) producer
proves how much they consume forested land, he said.
This massive land conversion, mostly found in Central and
West Kalimantan, takes place because corporations control the
regulations, and at the same time there is a lack of monitoring
from the Ministry of Forestry, he said.
He criticized the data issued by the government, especially
the Ministry of Forestry, which is no longer valid. ‘’The
deforestration figure is much bigger than the data provided
by the ministry. The data shows it is a forest but when we
check out in the field, it has already changed into an industrial
plantation,’’ he said.
PPP, he said, always calls on its cadres to support any pro-
environment movement, ‘’Specifically, our program in the
field is more towards ceremonial acitivities like tree planting,
cleaning up the environment programs, etc,’’ he said.
PKB has a regular program for the environment. Each
anniversary, the party always plants 10,000 trees. This activity
is an affirmation for the party which claims itself as a green
party.
“In 2007, we  declared PKB as a green party. It is a confirmation
of our commitment as a party which is concerned with the
environment,” said Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar.
In addition to planting 10,000 trees, another activity is the
symbolic release of dozens of birds. Muhaimin said the
decision to be a green party is the the right step, considering
that more people are aware of environmental issues
today. “Such commitment has become a global issue following
the phenomenon of uncertain climate change. This also proves
that our anticipation a few years ago was right,’’ he said.
Muhaimin, or Cak Imin as he is usually called, who is also
Minister for Manpower, promised that PKB will stick to its
commitment as a green party. As well as planting trees, the party,
which is based on the membership of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU),
is ready to oversee a number of pieces of legislation related
to environmental protection. ‘’Some regulations will require
full monitoring such as acts on water, climate change, and
the environment,’’ he said. PKB’s organizational wing Garda
Bangsa also participates in field action, including a campaign
against the use of plastic bags.
Garda Bangsa Chairperson   Dhakiri M Hanif said that his
organization campaigned against the use of plastic bags as it is
not environmentally friendly. “The use of plastic bags, which
are not easily recycled, is harful to the environment,” he said.
Quoting a United Nations for Environment Programme
(UNEP) report, he said in one year as many as one trillion plastic
bags are used by people around the world, meaning every one
minute two million plastic bags are discarded. ‘’As much as 80%
of the garbage in the ocean comes from the land, and 90% of
this is plastics. At least 267 marine species suffer because they
digest plastic waste,” he said.
In Indonesia alone, he said, plastic waste reached
1,600,000 tons per year, or 4,400 tonnes per day. One of
the main types of this waste is plastic bags. In Jakarta, it has
caused flooding, as it is clogging waterways.
“People should learn not to use plastic bags anymore. Garda
Bangsa has sent 50 green envoys to shopping malls to
distribute 2,000 re-usable bags to people for free , “ he said,
calling the action the Green Action Program of Plastic Bag
Fasting.
“This is a real action, one of PKB’s commitments to the
environment and climate change, and a way to educate people to
adopt environmentally friendly behavior,”  he said.
He advised political parties and their factions in parliament to
elaborate and affirm their ‘green vision’ so that their formal
documents such as vision, mission, platform and work program
can be accessed by anyone interested in climate change.
Second, political parties need to accommodate these growing
aspirations and formulate them into work programs. If
necessary, they should make a down-to-earth vision, mission
and work program in accordance with the character of the
respective electoral district.
Third, there is a need for breakthroughs and good
will to bridge the communication deadlock between
the legislative and the executive, both for the state budget and
local government revenue, and for other social issues. If all
parties use the same old practices, then the synergy of both
institutions, and any success, will be far from reality. Again,
people will be the ones to lose out.
Fourth, community participation is indispensable as a
way to control, evaluate and provide feedback to both the
legislature and the executive, otherwise both institutions
will give a “blank cheque” to their constituents during the
campaign. ‘’In the era of democracy, the public is no longer the
object but the subject of the policy,’’ he said.•
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• INTERVIEW
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• INTERVIEW
The 2014 elections are coming. The five-year democratic party should
be able to produce leaders who concern about environmental issues.
Thus, presidential, legislative candidates and political parties are expected to
have a clear and decisive vision to address climate change challenges.
Founded in 2008, the National Council for Climate Change (NCCC) is
now six years old. This year will be the last period for President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono’s second term of presidency. NCCC hopes the incoming
President will more concern about climate change issues in order to strengthen
the existence of the Council.
Regarding this issue, The Green Magazine interviewed NCCC`s Executive
Chair and President`s Special Envoy for Climate Change Rachmat Witoelar at
his office in Jakarta.
The 2014 Elections:
Hoping for
Environmental
Leaderships
Rachmat Witoelar Executive Chair of National Council on Climate Change,President’s
Special Envoy on Climate Change
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• INTERVIEW
The legislative elections will be held on April
9 and presidential elections on July 9, what do
you expect from the incoming elected leaders?
In fact, the 2014 elections are golden
opportunities for Indonesian people to
determine their fate over the coming
five years. And the threats and
dangers of climate change is one of
the strategic issues that should never
be ignored.
Big floods and other disasters that
hit this country proves that climate
change is increasingly threatening.
Therefore, both legislative and
presidential elections should have
an impact on its preventive efforts.
Choose the leaders - President and
Legislative members - who concern
about the environment. NCCC is
neutral and stands for all parties for the
sake of saving the environment. The
most dangerous threat today is
not war nor terrorism but climate
change. Indonesia needs the right
leader who is able to continue the
efforts of President SBY to save the
environment .
What do you expect from the incoming elected
legislative members and president?
The impacts and threats of climate
change have affected various aspects of
our life. To respond to these threats, the
approach of any development strategy
should cover all sectors, ranging from
those impacting on food availability
to physical infrastructure, through
development strategies that adopt
climate change mainstreaming.
On the other hand, the issue
of coordination between sectors
remains a weakness of bureaucracy in
achieving comprehensive, effective and
efficient development.
We hope the incoming leaders, the
elected legislative members and
President will be more sensitive
to climate change issues in order
to strengthen the existence of
NCCC. NCCC is very important
regarding the sustainable management
of climate change as well as dealing
with climate change institutions at the
global level.
Nevertheless, the change of leadership
in 2014 is quite concerning regarding
commitment on climate change. What
if those elected leaders do not tune in,
or do not even care with NCCC? If
so, then it will be something
very detrimental to our future.
Why do you think so?
Learning from the experience of other
countries, usually once the government
is changed, the existence of the climate
change body becomes unclear. In
Australia, for example, the new
• INTERVIEW
government has removed various
policies on climate change namely, the
Climate Change Authority, Clean Ener-
gy Finance Company, and Domestic
Carbon Pricing Scheme. Their
national policy has completely
changed. I hope it will not happen
to Indonesia. If this institution does
not continue, then we will be back to
zero. Where would the funding already
available in 2014 be allocated?
The change of commitment on the
reduction of carbon emission also
takes place in Japan. In the COP-19
held in Warsaw, Poland, Japan officially
announced its commitment change in
reduction of carbon emission from 25
percent in 1990 became 3.8 percent
from its 2005’s emission. Japan was still
shocked by the tragedy in its nuclear
plant in Fukushima, and decided to use
the plant anymore.
Learning from those experiences in other
countries, what are your thoughts for Indonesia
in the future?
In fact, ideally there should be a
comprehensive legislation on climate
change issues, or a law. If we want our
presence to be globally legitimate, then
we have to start from the domestic
level. Now Indonesia does not yet have
this. What we have now are partial
regulations. However, we are in the
process. The coordination between
related ministries is underway in order
to establish an institutional reference.
Have you talked to or approached those
parties in the 2014 legislative and presidential
elections?
We have approached several candidates
informally and we will do it more
intensively after April 2014. We have
also talked with various parties and
conveyed the message that Indonesia
must remain committed to climate
change issues. We call on the public and
eligible voters to vote for figures who
are concerned for the environment.
The concern of countries regarding
increasing their commitments to reduce
carbon emissions is very important. We
must remember that, without this, the
impacts of climate change will threaten
the earth and its population.
United Nations Secretary General Ban
Ki Moon has always encouraged all
leaders of states and governments to
increase their commitments to tackle
climate change. On September
23rd, 2014, will be the UN Climate
Summit, which is held a day before
the UN General Assembly. Indonesia
maintains its commitment to reduce
carbon emissions by 26 percent with its
own efforts, and 41 percent with
international assistance, by 2020.•
We hope, the coming
leaders, the elected
legislative members
and President will be
more sensitive to climate
change issue in order to
strengthen the existence of
NCCC
GIIP/ aldo GIIP/ aldo GIIP/ aldo

32
33
• INTERVIEW • INTERVIEW
climate change & Remote
SensingTechnology
Solution
Orbita Roswintiarti Head of Remote Sensing Data Center ofthe Indonesian
National Institute ofAeronauticsand Space (Lapan)
The phenomenon of climate change is usually
signalled by weather anomalies, the dry
season lasting longer than the rainy season,
and hydrometeorological disasters such
as droughts and floods, and forest fires,
which have repeatedly hit the country. How
far can we rely on technology to overcome these
problems?
We can rely on technology, for sure. For
example, to monitor the amount
of carbon in the forestry sector as
mitigation against climate change
impacts, we can use remote sensing
technology. This technology can detect
the vulnerability of an area, especially
in coastal areas, by monitoring
rising sea levels caused by climate
change. Moreover, this space-based
technology can calculate which islands
are going to sink.
This space-based remote sensing
technology can anticipate impacts
of climate change. These impacts
of climate change can be reduced by
observing a number of variables, such
as sea level rise, deforestation, and the
increase of carbon in the air.
So far, Lapan has observed most of the-
sevariables via satellitewith remotesen-
singtechnology,forexample, measuring
the rate of forest degradation, the
increase in sea water temperature, areas
of peat land, and estimations of carbon
stocks.
However, Lapan does not have its
own satellite. Some countries do,
such as the United States, European
countries, Japan, China, India and
Brazil. They are part of the Global
Earth Observation System to
Systems (GEOSS).
Only a few people know Lapan
has a carbon accounting system,
called Indonesia’s National Carbon
Accounting System (Incas), used to
calculate biomass classification, land
coverchangeanalysis,forestdisturbance
class mapping, carbon stock estimation,
and carbon accounting and reporting
models.
What kind of technology does Lapan have
then?
We have a ground station in Pare-
Pare, South Sulawesi, which captures
the signals from satellites to obtain data
with low, medium and high
resolution. For low-resolution data,
the frequency to receive data is on
a daily basis, for medium resolution
within every 30 minutes, and for high-
resolution is real time data. Under the
new Space Act, this data is distributed
freely to ministries, institutions and
local government.
The Pare Pare station can cover the
whole country, but not the rest of the
world. The geographical position of
Environmental crises continue to occur, and have worsened
in recent years. Global warming, the extinction of
species, prolonged drought, water scarcity, environmental
pollution, air pollution, and forest fires are environmental
problems that could destroy human civilization sooner or later.
Technology can be a solution. Mitigation of climate change
impacts can be helped by remote sensing that observes
rising sea levels, deforestation, and the increase of carbon in
the air. Yudhiarma MK and photographer Masud from
the Green Magazine recently interviewed in Jakarta
the Head of the Remote Sensing Data Center of the
Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space
Agency (Lapan), Orbita Roswintiarti.
Indonesia, positioned on the
equator line, makes us independent in
terms of outer space.
The incoming data will be directly input
to a system called the National Spatial
Data Network. However, sometimes
not all data obtained is clear because of
weather factors such as cloud cover. If
the sky is cloudy, we have to repeat the
next recording. Lapan plans to open a
new ground station in Rumpin, Bogor.
Besides that, software development is
also underway.
Can you explain what are the duties of
Lapan?
Lapan’s duty, amongst other things,
is to provide high-resolution satellite
remote sensing data under license
to the Indonesian government and to
improve the capacity and operation
of the data acquisition system.
We also provide data through
radiometric and spectral corrections,
create metadata from the incoming
data based on national standards,
store the data, and, together with
the Geospatial Information Agency,
quality control the data.
For activities related to remote
sensing, Lapan’s duties are to plan,
build and operate satellites and remote
sensing ground stations; the
procurement of high-resolution
remote sensing data; the preparation of
standard methods and quality of data
processing; and to organize the storage
and distribution of data through the
National Sensing Data Bank,
as input to the National Spatial
Data network. Lapan has also
established guidelines for the
use and dissemination of remote
sensing information.
Does Lapan co-operate with other
Institutions?
So far we have co-operation with
certain government institutions
such as the Presidential Work Unit
for Development Monitoring and
Control (UKP4) on the provision
anduseof remotesensingdata
to support the decision
support system in Bina
Graha on March 2, 2012. In addition,
it also supports the decision support
system in Bina Graha.
We have a role to remind the
public of the urgency of climate
change education, and to do that
we have worked a number of times
with the National Council for
Climate Change toorganizethe Climate
Change Education Forum & Expo. •
GIIP/ MASOED
ISTIMEWA

34
35
MAS
Strengthen Developing
Countries Bargaining
Moekti Handajani Soejachmoen
SecretaryWorking Group on International Negotiation
ofthe National Council on Climate Change
With the existence of the National Council for
Climate Change (NCCC), Indonesia’s role is increasingly
recognized and more effective in battling environmental
issues in international fora. Moreover, Indonesia successfully
hosted a global event, the COP-13 United Nations
Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
Nusa Dua, Bali, on 3-14 December 2007.
The various negotiating steps taken by Indonesia
have made the country one of the pillars that has
strengthened the bargaining position of developing
countries with developed countries in climate change
issues. Indonesia, through the NCCC, is tough enough
in “forcing” the giant industrialist countries to care more
about environmental issues. Developing countries are
now becoming increasingly independent in implementing
programs to control climate change, rather than expecting
help from rich countries.
The following is a recent interview in Jakarta
by Yudhiarma MK from the Green magazine with Secretary of
the Working Group on International Negotiations of the
NCCC Moekti Handajani Soejachmoen.
You are known to be quite vocal in battling
for the aspirations of developing countries when
dealing with developed countries? Can you
tell me about your experiences engaging in
such international fora?
Whatdoyoufeel these days? Alternating
heatwaves and rain? That the
seasons do not follow the plot any
longer? This phenomenon is a general
picture of climate change impacts. It
does not happen only in Indonesia,
but around the world.   Given these
impacts, which affect all mankind
on earth, it is not wrong to say
that the discussion about efforts
to tackle climate change cannot be
left to one or two countries alone. It
has to be a common obligation.
That’s why every year all countries in
the world gather to discuss climate
change. Sponsored by the UNFCCC,
this international gathering is called
the Conference of the Parties (COP),
and is held to discuss and figure
out the best solution to overcome
climate change impacts. Besides
the COP, there is another annual
event called the Kyoto Protocol.
Thesetwoglobalmeetingsaimtodiscuss
and evaluate the implementations of
comitments that were the result of
previous meetings, as well as unveiling
new agreements.
For instance?
For instance, COP-17 in Durban,
South Africa, resulted in the Durban
Platform. There were two major
agreements; first, the extension of
the mandate of the Ad Hoc Working
Group on Long-term Cooperative
Action under the Convention (AWG-
LCA), and second, the establishment
of a new agency called the Ad
Hoc Working Group on the Durban
Platform (AWG-DP) .
The AWG-DP is mandated to agree a
multilateral climate change framework
with two main options, namely to
form a new protocol, or through
another legal format which will have
legal certainty following the end of
the second commitment of the Kyoto
Protocol.
COP-17 in Durban also agreed an
extension of the term of the Ad
Hoc Working Group on Further
Commitments for Annex I Parties
under the Kyoto Protocol/AWG-
KP which, among other things,
means the agreement of a second
commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol from 2013 to either
2017 or 2020.   Indonesia welcomes
the outcome of COP-17. The Durban
Platform is legally binding, particularly
for developed countries’ commitments
on climate change.
Any other experiences?
We hosted COP-13 in Bali in 2007.
ISTIMEWA

36
37
• INTERVIEW
Later, at COP-19 held in Warsaw,
Poland, Indonesia through the NCCC
maintained its commitment to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 26%.
The Japanese government officially
announced a change to its emission
reduction commitment from 25% to
3.8%. Australia has removed a number
of its climate change policies such as
the Climate Change Authority, the
Clean Energy Finance Company, and its
Domestic Carbon Pricing Scheme.
As responsible citizens of the world, we
uphold our commitment to emmisions
reductions.
The estimation of greenhouse gas
emissions in Indonesia in 2005 was
2.1 gigatonnes (gt). Indonesia has
committed to reducing carbon
emissions by 26% by 2020, or
approximately 0.67 gt. Around 78% of
the 26% commitment belongs to the
Ministry of Forestry which is making
progress to reduce deforestation.
Indonesia, through the Ministry of
Transport, has received international
funding assistance to build an
environmentally friendly mass
transportationsystemcalledSustainable
Urban Transport Initiative-Nationally
Appropriate Mitigation Action/SUTRI
NAMA. The UK and Germany are the
donor countries.
Besides Indonesia, other countries
including Chile, Costa Rica and
Colombia also received international
assistance. Indonesia and Colombia
are the first parties to receive such
international assistance for activities in
the transportation sector.
Fourimportantdecisionsemergedfrom
COP-19 in Warsaw. First, the financing
issues around climate change will be
directly mobilized in the developed
countries in order to increase climate
control actions in developing countries;
second, the demand from developing
countries regarding a loss and damage
mechanism related to climate change;
third, technical issues around REDD+;
and fourth, funding assistance to cover
monitoring and reporting. These stages
all lead towards COP-21 to be held in
2015 in Paris.
The UNFCCC parties have agreed to
adopt, at COP21, a protocol or other
instrument which is legally binding
and applicable to all parties as the basis
for a new global framework to deal
with post-2020 climate change issues.
The draft post-2020 agreement will be
formulated at COP 20 to be held in
Lima, Peru, in 2014.
What is the meaning of your struggle and
the Indonesian delegation’s struggle, through
for this country in particular, and developing
countries in general?
The discussion on the legal form
of the climate change deal can not
be separated from the fact that some
UNFCCC members are developing
countries which have experienced
rapid economic and political growth
in the last decade. As a consequence,
the emission levels in these countries
have increased significantly, some even
• INTERVIEW
beyond the standard of greenhouse gas
emissions of some Annex I (developed
country) members.
In addition, the IPCC report warns
that greenhouse gas emissions in
the atmosphere must be reduced
significantly by 2020, and these GHG
emissions in the atmosphere stabilized
after 2020, in order to avoid disaster due
to an average temperature rise above
two degrees. How these dynamics and
trends can be reflected in the ambition
to reduce emissions both pre-2020
and post-2020 will remain one of the
major issues within the climate change
negotiations until 2015.
Changes in the direction and demands
of thenegotiationsaffectsIndonesiaand
other countries like Brazil, China, India,
South Africa and Mexico, which are all
experiencing rapid economic growth, as
well as an increase in GHG emissions.
Compared to many other developing
countries, Indonesia has more
advanced thinking on climate change.
Besides giving birth to the Bali Action
Plan, Indonesia was the first developing
country to pledge a commitment to
voluntarily reduce emissions, by as
much as 26%.
COP-19 in Warsaw mainly talked about
the increase of pre-2020 ambition,
and the post-2020 framework. As
one of the developing countries
considered as having an important
role in climate change negotiations,
the position and role of Indonesia
to these two different periods, pre-
2020 and post-2020, is interesting
to follow and discuss.
Can you explain about the role of
Indonesia?
The urgency of Indonesia’s position
and role is not only for the negotiations
butalso  forthedomesticimplementation
of its international commitments. This
shows that Indonesia has intensified
its contribution and its role in the climate
change negotiations.
With current conditions, where our
rapid economic growth will bring
Indonesia to the point where we will
be required to participate actively, it is
important for this country to be able to
determine our long term target and type
of participation, especially post-
2020. It has to be considered carefully,
given that the new treaty to be
imposed after 2020 will be applicable to
all parties. Therefore, it is important for
Indonesia to start thinking about our
target and the type of long-term
participation in climate change issues.
And what is your suggestion?
For adaptation issues, Indonesia
requires recognition for all the efforts
we have undertaken, and how to get
access to allow us to take even bigger
actions.
Certainty on the access concerned
also applies to components of the
means of implementation, including
funding, technology and capacity
building. What we have fought for at
the international level should be in
line with our domestic preparedness, in
anticipation that those international
scenarios will favour Indonesia. We
need legislation to regulate climate
changecontrol, so thatanyinternational
assistance received by Indonesia is
accountable.
Now for domestic issues, we will be in a
transitional period of power due to the 2014
elections. Do you think this situation will
affect climate change mitigation efforts?
Of course it will, because we will enter
into a transitional period leading
to a newly elected leadership. Our
expectation to immediately have an
act on Climate Change will also be
delayed. We hope the incoming elected
parliament and president will be
seriously commited to environmental
issues.
The fact is, our government will
continue to face challenges in how
to tackle climate change. At the same
time, the government must ensure
the right conditions for sustainable
economic growth. There will a number
of challenges, such as the decline in
the quantity and quality of resources,
unprecedented climate change impacts,
and institutions incapable of respon-
ding to these climate change issues.
Meanwhile, efforts to address climate
change issues are very complicated. It
requires a strong will and skill to make
good decisions.
In addition, there is also an idea
to increase the status of the
NCCC to become an agency instead
of a council, to provide it with
more authority in climate change
mitigation efforts.•
ISTIMEWA

38
39
The Government
Playsa Key Role
Shinta Widjaja Kamdani
The Indonesian Chamber of Commerceand Industry
Deputy Chairwoman for Environmentand Climate Change
Climate change has impacted on many sectors. The business
world is no exception. Tough competition is inevitable due to
the increasing depletion of natural resources, as raw material
production around the world is not expanding. The Living
Planet Report shows that mankind is consuming resources at a
rate up to 1.5 times faster than the earth’s ability to regenerate
these resources.
The Living Planet Report is a biennial
report on the health condition of the
earth.Thereportshowsthattheincrease
in world population has automatically
pushed demand for natural resources
higher, causing tremendous pressures
on biodiversity and impacting on the
health, welfare and safety of the future
inhabitants of the earth.
The report is launched at the
InternationalSpaceStation,inparticular
by Dutch astronaut André Kuipers,
who gives his unique perspective on
the planet’s condition. “We only have
one earth. From up here I can see the
ecological footprints left by humans
such as forest fires, water pollution and
erosion - all are challenges summarized
in the Living Planet Report,” said
Kuipers.
“Despite ongoing environmental
destruction, we still have a chance to
save the earth, not only for the sake of
our current benefit but also for future
generations,” said Kuipers.
Impact
TheIndonesian Chamberof Commerce
and Industry, through its deputy
chairwoman for Environment, Climate
Change and Sustainable Development
Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, pays attention
to the Living Planet Report. She
highlights the specific item stating that
the depletion of Earth’s resources is
50% greater than the earth’s ability
to provide sustainably, and this will
have a major impact in the future.
“If we do not stop and change our
way of life from now on, let’s see
what is going to happen in the next
two decades; even two planets would
not be able to meet our needs,” she is
quoted as saying. The Living Planet
Report also analyzes the impact of
population growth, suggesting that
over-consumption places massive
pressure on the environment.
“The Living Planet Report is a kind
of medical check-up for the earth, and
the result indicates that our planet is
very sick now,” said Jonathan Baille,
Conservation Program Director of
the Zoological Society of London.
“Ignoring this diagnosis will bring a
very big impact for humanity. We can
restore the health of the Earth by
reviewing the root of problems, namely
high population growth and excessive
consumption,” he added.
For Indonesia, Shinta said, a climate
change act is required to respond to
the various challenges and dynamics of
climate change at the national, regional
and global level. In fact, she added,
Indonesia should have passed such an
act soon after the country declared its
commitment to tackle climate change
in 2009.
Legislation on climate change will
be successful if the government
has good coordination, especially
regarding the act’s implementation.
“But do not create legislation which
becomes a new reference and
thus complicates business competition
in Indonesia or even globally,” she said
Shinta, who is also chief executive
officer of the Synthesis Group, said
it will require a stronger commitment
from the government if it is to achieve
its target of reducing emissions by 26%
by 2020. She expressed her concerns
that the achievement of the target has
no long-term foundation.
“The commitment seems to have no
long-term foundation, nor any decent
effort to achieve the target,’’ she said,
adding that it is, however, not just the
fault of the government.
Insteadof pointingthefingeratanyone,
she prefers to approach all parties
to solve the issue together through
concrete actions. “If we do not have
that foundation, let’s make it. Better
late, than do nothing. The key is good
coordination between related ministries
in elaborating technical things related
to emissions reduction targets.” she
said, adding that currently initiatives
mostly came from non-governmental
parties.
According to Shinta, who also serves as
ISTIMEWA

40
41
the President of the Indonesia Business
Council for Sustainable evelopment,
the 2014 leadership succession will
not affect Indonesia’s long-term
commitment on climate change.
‘’Whoever will be the new leader, he or
she must commit to protect Indonesia
from environmental damage,’’ she said.
The coming elections should produce
figureheads who have a clear vision
and a platform on environmental issues
and climate change. “In fact, there is
still a concern that many candidates
are trying to answer that vision, not
because they think it is necessary, but
rather to satisfy the public’s desire.
Commitment is the key. If the current
government has a strong strategy, then
the next cabinet will learn faster,” she
said.
Challenges
When asked about the challenges
faced by business people related to
environmental issues, she admitted
that fierce competition is inevitably
unavoidable due to the decreasing
availability of raw material sources.
“Business people will obviously be
concerned about the challenges posed
by climate change, because it will
determinetheirbusinessandinvestment
in the future. They will do their best to
secure their assets in which they have
invested for so many years. Now the
question is, why is it so difficult for the
government to concretely support this
concept of sustainability? In fact, this
country has numerous and valuable
assets compared to other countries,’’
she said.
The best thing the government can
do is to formulate an environmental
balance, to measure the value of
the assets we own and the size of
the responsibility needed to secure
them. “We have to move quickly,
otherwise we have no competitiveness
in global competition,” she said.
So-called green initiatives have
actually developed among the younger
generation, given the increasingly
broad access to information, either
from media reports or social media,
she asserted.
“However, daily application that
reflects green awareness is still relatively
low. I even think the media is not
quite ready to report about the ‘green
initiative’, therefore this issue is not so
popular.Themediashouldalsobeaware
of the issues in a balanced way, not just
quoting parties voicing certain interests.
The media should be part of the
educated civil society in encouraging a
significant change,” she said.•
If we do not stop and change our way of life
from now on, let’s see what is going to happen
in the next two decades, even two planets
would not be able to meet our needs
Shinta Widjaja Kamdani is the owner and CEO of the Synthesis Group, a multi-sector company in Indonesia which has
several subsidiaries dealing with consumer and industrial products, property and energy.
Shinta is actively involved in, and leads, many charitable organizations and businesses related to environment, community
and businesses in Indonesia. She is a founder of the Global Entrepreneurship Program Indonesia; chairwoman of the
Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO), President of the Indonesian Business Council for Sustainable Development
(IBCSD); Chairperson of Women in Network; Chairwoman of the Young Presidents Organization ‘(YPO); Member of the
Executive Board of the Indonesia World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF-Indonesia); and a member of both the Indonesian Aids
Foundation (YAI) and Indonesian Business Coalition on AIDS (IBCA).
Shinta graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, in 1989 and from Harvard Business School, Boston,
Massachusetts, USA in 2002. She has been the recipient of many awards, including from the Asian Business Leadership
Forum in Abu Dhabi in 2012; FORBES in 2012 as one of Asia’s 50 Most Powerful Businesswomen; Indonesia Women’s
Award for Private Sector for Manufacturing in 2012; Asia’s Leading Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2013; and Women
In Leadership Forum.
ISTIMEWA ISTIMEWA
Shinta Kamdani with Garuda Indonesia President Director Emirsyah Satar and
BNI Deputy Director Felia Salim at IBCSD, Jakarta.

42
43
• INTERVIEW
Head of Investment Coordinating Board
Mahendra Siregar
Green Investment for
Indonesia’s Future
IST
• INTERVIEW
This year is election year; what is your opinion
about the challenges for green investment?
I don’t see any difference between
those who are requesting permits and
those who realize them, practically the
same inrecent years. This will continue
to be developed and maintained for
years to come, including during this
political year.
Regarding Indonesia’s co-operation with
Norway, what is your response?
I view this from the perspective of
our own national interests rather than
Norway’s, namely, the investment
and all issues related to sustainable
development. These issues must be in
our grip; this is an absolute requirement
because it is in our own interest to keep
the balance between economic growth
and environmental preservation.
I see this from the principle of
sustainable development rather
than any other perspective. This is
something we have to do - a balance
between long-term economic growth
and environmental welfare.
Can you explain what kind of government
policy is related to green investment?
It is not only policy, but also the
instruments which we have that are
still far from adequate. Just look at the
banks - no credit is available for green
investment. All credit requires the same
conventional requirements, particularly
on feasibility. Nobody really cares about
this specific requirement for green
investment. As a result, businessmen
who are interested in green investment
must cover the costs by themselves.
Why does this happen?
I think because green investment is still
a branding instead of being reflected in
real action. Therefore, it does not yet
seem to be real and concrete.
If you are mandated to be a policy maker,
what will you do to improve this situation?
I see this as a chance to encourage our
businessmen to implement rules which
are applicable internationally. For
example, I encourage those palm
oil companies which in the past have
been strongly criticized by national
and international environmental
organizations to respond to those
critics positively instead of just denying
accusations. It is actually for their own
good. There is also an issue of policy, as
the monitoring of the implementation
of regulations by the government itself
is not sufficient enough.
Green investment will support and strengthen a number of complementary, people-oriented
objectives related to climate change. Green vision in investment is not a threat, but the future of
the Indonesian economy. Green investment becomes a solution to overcome major obstacles in
economic growth, and supports the commitment of the Indonesian government towards a low-
carbon and sustainable future.
The following is an interview by H. Agus Sofyan and Ghea Mirella from Green Magazine with the
Head of Investment Coordinating Board Mahendra Siregar, in his office in Jakarta in early March.
As the Head of BKPM, how do you see the challenges of climate change in Indonesia, and how
should the government encourage and create conditions so that Indonesia can overcome the
settlement and the impact of climate change, or take advantage of opportunities from climate
change?
There is certainly a process to get through, ranging from obtaining permits and approval from
various institutions, both central and local government. For me, this procedure from time to time
must be simplified, faster and more transparent.
Second, the condition of infrastructure requires improvement. Law enforcement also requires
improvement, meaning there must be certainty in judicial processes and the quality of legal policy.
One more important thing is constant improvements relating to the industrial sector.
AGOES SOFYAN

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