This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Indonesia Country Manager Ruby Orim

 

Indonesia’s 2030 Climate Goals Are Insufficient

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Indonesia’s total CO2 emissions in the most recent year, 2018, was 542.88 Mt of CO2. This is over a 313% increase from their total CO2 emissions in 1990. Indonesia’s government currently does not generate its emissions data. They rely on external sources such as the IEA to keep track of such figures.

Indonesia has committed in its Paris Agreement pledge to reduce its carbon emissions by 29% in 2030 if the circumstances remain business-as-usual, and by 41% in 2030 given that international assistance is provided. Unfortunately, the Indonesian government has not provided a detailed plan as to how they will achieve their 2030 goals for climate mitigation.  Much of the focus is on the reduction of forest malpractices through the increase of indigenous land rights and environmental laws to help combat malpractices. While the Indonesian NDC would lead to reductions in the LULUCF sector emissions, other emissions are still allowed to more than double compared to today’s levels by 2030.

Climate Action Tracker describes Indonesia’s Paris Agreement pledge as “highly insufficient,” meaning that it is not consistent with holding global warming to below 2degrees Celsius let alone with the IPCC recommended limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/indonesia/pledges-and-targets/

So Far Indonesia Has Not Committed to Become Carbon Neutral by 2050

Indonesia also has not committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Currently, the only spoken goal for climate mitigation in Indonesia is its 2030 plan.

However, there are several initiatives occurring in Indonesia, both in the private and public sector, that are committed to mitigating climate change. The government’s efforts lie mainly in the land and forest use sector, where they are attempting the reduce the impact of the palm oil industry on Indonesia’s landscape. However, many individual city governments, such as Jakarta’s government, plan to or have implemented infrastructure changes to reduce emission factors such as car pollution.