Amidst the effects of climate change which are being felt globally, Indonesia has updated its climate goals by submitting its revised Nationally Determined Contribution or NDC to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change this past July. Net zero emissions in Indonesia are targeted to be achieved by 2060 based on extensive consultation between the government, key energy stakeholders, and other important players.
Indonesia’s Updated Climate Goals
In an article on The Jakarta Globe, the country’s Environment and Forestry Minister cited the preservation of the country’s numerous tropical rainforests as one of the catalysts for its updated climate goals. The Indonesian archipelago is home to around 17,000 islands and is considered one of the world’s “megadiverse” countries due to its abundant flora and fauna, according to the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity.
Indonesia’s updated NDC aims for a conditional greenhouse gas emissions reduction of up to 41% below business-as-usual by 2030, with additional support from international investors and experts. Reducing the country’s emissions by 41% will seek to eliminate as much as 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Smart Cities Link
These ambitious climate goals are facing a tough road ahead, especially as majority of Indonesia’s resources are currently being used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several efforts have been made at the city government level to help transition Indonesians towards a cleaner and greener lifestyle.
The YCP Solidiance white paper Can Indonesia Achieve ‘100 Smart Cities’ by 2045? highlights how the creation of smart cities in Indonesia are founded on several key objective pillars—one of which is “Smart Environment,” which aims to facilitate the management of IT-based natural resources and the further development of renewable energy sources. Currently, measures are being taken by the smart cities of Jakarta and Bandung to help reduce emissions through building more green spaces within their cities, encouraging the usage of electric vehicles, and ensuring that new construction is being built with green concepts in mind.
Technology plays a large role in ensuring that these objectives continue to advance, and as such these cities are looking for collaborative partners to make their goals a reality. Players in the sectors of renewable energy, machine learning, and even digital app-based solutions are needed to facilitate green solutions for city waste management, automotive, and solar energy.
Indonesia’s smart cities movement plays a pivotal role in helping the country achieve its overall climate goals. Helping shift the mindset of Indonesians towards prioritizing green living will go a long way in pushing larger companies and businesses to adopt cleaner and more sustainable practices, to be able to reach net zero emissions.
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