“The world opinion is now zooming us like a laser beam. Many doubt if we can make a breakthrough. Many do not believe that we can. There are very few optimists. And yet others ask whether we should prioritize climate issues when there is an urgent global financial crisis. We are here as leaders not negotiators – that is the job of our officials in the climate change rounds. But even though we are here to negotiate, we must send the right and positive signals to the world, a signal that climate change remains our top priority even as we wrestle with the financial crisis.”
That is the speech that was given by Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the G20 Leaders Summit, which was held in Pittsburgh, on September 2009. In that conference, the member countries did effort to create national policies, in order to reduce the global emission. Indonesia plays an important role and Its national policies that related to the issue, should have a gigantic effect in the global effort fighting the climate change because it owns large size of forest, which is (unluckily) followed by high deforestation. Its forest that should have a function as carbon sink, worked in opposite way by contributing 60% of the country’s national emission. At the moment, Indonesia committed to do some efforts, such as: making National Action on Climate Change on 2020 and 2050, reduce the national emission from the BAU (Business As Usual) sector which is included in LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry) to the 26% or 41% -- with the help of international partners, and minimize the the deforestation and use the eco-friendly energy.
The Letter of Intent between Indonesia and The Royal Norwegia was signed in May 2010, as the next effort of the commitment relates to REDD+. Some policies have been applied since 2011 in order to reach the target of the commitment. Those are good intentions from the government, actually. But, problems emerge everywhere that make the effectivity of the policy implementation to the minimum level. And the more important thing is, will it sustain while it’s currently facing an another challenge?
An Another Challenge for Policy Continuity: Transition Phase
On July 9th 2014, Indonesia held Its biggest democration party which was welcomed by excitements of Its people. Based on the recapitulation, Joko Widodo or well-known as Jokowi selected as the Indonesian President for the 2014-2019 and will do the presidential tasks starting from this October 20th 2014.
But, the transition phase is always challenging. It means that almost every part of the government, will be replaced by new people and how the new government can understand about the policies and its implementations. As a part of the efforts to solve the problem, the current President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has had a private meeting with the future president, Joko Widodo and discussed some main important issues and policies.
Dear Mr. Jokowi, Can We Count on You?
Idiosyncratically, there’s no doubt that Jokowi will create good policies and decisions about environment. “Why” must be emerge and the answer is the knowledge he has about environment, especially forestry. Jokowi is a Forestry Engineer and studied in Department of Forestry in Universitas Gajah Mada, Jogjakarta, in 1985. His experiences as a Mayor of Solo and Governor of Jakarta also showed that he’s competence and concern in creating both of those cities to become green, clean and well-managed.
His knowledge was proved through his statements and answers in Presidential Debate about “Food Security, Energy and Environment”, he also zoomed in about how environmental problems in forest sector need to be solved in his governance period. Jokowi seemed dominate the debate and understand many issues related to the environment problems and the solutions.
Furthermore, Jokowi said in some medias that under his governance Indonesia will back Singapore's plan to increase fines on those responsible for haze pollution. Haze that was polluted Singapore and Malaysia that came from fires in Indonesia’s peatland possibly make the relations between Indonesia and the two countries turn into bad. Even though the policy categorizes burning as an illegal action, the response from the government was too slow.
So, Why Don’t We Be Optimistic?
The incoming President hasn’t start the presidential tasks yet by knowing his backgrounds, experiences, knowledge and early actions to solve the environmental problems, I think there’s nothing wrong to feel optimistic for having him as the next president
