Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition pushes the Indonesian government to use the upcoming submission of the Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC) in September as momentum to correct its commitment to climate change and democracy.
"The government must implement social justice by recognizing the rights and fulfilling the specific needs of vulnerable groups affected by climate change, such as small farmers, traditional fishers, indigenous people, and others. This is the only way to realize climate justice or a just transition," said Torry Kuswardono, the Executive Director of Yayasan Pikul, at the launch of the document on Recommendation for Equitable SNDC as quoted from a written statement on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
The coalition, supported by 64 civil institutions in Indonesia, submitted the SNDC Recommendation to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The ministry represents Indonesia at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
In the SNDC Recommendation document, the coalition highlights vulnerable groups that continue to bear the brunt of climate change despite having no hand in causing it.
Data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) shows that climate disasters jumped 81 percent in over a decade, with 2022 recording 3,544 incidents that affect over 20 million people.
The 2023 IPCC report also noted that 79 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 came from the energy, industry, transportation, and building sectors. Meanwhile, 22 percent comes from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses. These sectors contribute through land conversion and exploitation of natural resources.
To combat climate change, the Indonesian government has released several policies, including the commitment to net-zero emissions by 2060. Some of the policies aimed at achieving this target are Climate-Resilient Low Carbon Development, National Energy Transition, Indonesia FOLU Net Sink 2030, and Carbon Economic Value.
"Unfortunately, this ambition is not yet in line with the global target of emissions reduction to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Even the 2060 target is longer than the global net-zero emissions by 2050 target," said Torry.
Thus, vulnerable groups in Indonesia such as small farmers, traditional fishers, indigenous peoples, laborers, informal workers, people with disabilities, and others are at risk. Climate change actions in Indonesia this past decade exacerbated the vulnerability of these groups.
"Instead of reducing the target for greenhouse gas emissions, (Indonesia's) development strategy legitimizes environmental destruction and seizure of the vulnerable group's living space," Torry said.
"The nickel mining cases, the Rempang industrial area, the Wadas case, and even the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) which claims to be a green capital city with low emissions also encourage environmental destruction and the deprivation of citizens' rights."