Indonesia green development strategy should be implemented

Antara 26 Sep 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias Ministry of Environment and Forestry hopes that the Green Growth Compact (GGC) implemented by the East Kalimantan province will also be emulated by other provincial governments.

"We hope that other sub-districts and provinces can also follow the path of environment-friendly development as has been done in East Kalimantan," said the Ministrys Economy and Natural Resources staff member, Agus Justianto, at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

His Ministry believes that the CGC sets a new paradigm that targets efficient use of natural resources while taking into account various surrounding aspects.

Adequate utilization of natural resources, he continued, was needed to ensure the safety of the environment, creating jobs and encouraging various activities based on environmental knowledge.

"The East Kalimantan province is the first area in Indonesia to launch a future green development strategy," Justianto revealed.

Additionally, he also explained that the Green Growth Compact is a strategy adopted by a number of countries in a bid to preserve the environment in the context of the threat of climate change.

"East Kalimantan has implemented the Green Growth Compact and the ministry is fully supporting it," he stated.

Responding positively to the measures taken by East Kalimantan, the Environmental and Forestry Ministry believes that the province could be a good example for the global community to emulate.

The idea was floated by East Kalimantan Governor Awang Farouk, along with Brazils Para province Governor and Mexicos Yucatan province Governor at the Nature Conservancy Forum in 2015 in Paris, France.

Head of East Kalimantan Climate Change Board Daddy Ruhiyat said the declaration targets an 80 percent decrease in deforestation by 2020, as stated in the real action plan document.

"The real actions include following a path of development that allows for low carbon emission levels and also go in for provincial glass house action plans," he reminded.

The parties involved in the Green Growth Compact declaration signing included the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, six sub-districts and towns, four universities, four human-resources empowerment corporations, an indigenous village leader and two international Non-Government Organizations (NGOs).

(Reported by Roy Rosa Bachtiar/Uu.KR-ARC/INE/KR-BSR/A014)