DCR

Urgency of Tackling Climate Crisis Based on the Latest Science Reports

The inevitable changes on weather and climate around the globe over the years are becoming universal concern. There is almost no room for anyone to be indifferent towards such occurrence, not when it affects the day-to-day activities of so many people on this
planet, which are mostly represented by the country. If anything, country is considered as the most prominent representation of the people in aspiring their voices on this matter.Indonesia is the one being out of the question, especially with the existence of natural
forests spread throughout most areas of the nation. Needless to say, it can be concluded that the existence of forests is the key factor in making sure of the sustainability of the country, region, world and the whole planet.

During Presentation

Therefore, on August 28 2019, Dr. Arief Wijaya of climate and forest senior manager in World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia, had the opportunity to share his findings on climate crisis which basis lie within the latest science reports. He started his lecture on the negative effects arising post the forest fires, including the worsened air condition in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta. There are three urgent gaps in improving Jakarta's air quality stated by Dr. Arief Wijaya, which are: (1) Very limited monitoring system resulting in uninformed policy, (2) Advancing Electric Vehicles (EVs) through fossil fuel energy sources, and (3) Emission impact impact from Industrial Estates in Jakarta Greater Area. The worsened air quality does not only affect the health of the people, but also the economics
aspect in the city.

Dr. Arief Wijaya then continued disclosing the interconnected findings between worsened air quality with the global warming signified by temperature rise that keeps increasing over the course of approximately 135 years. This condition is becoming more severe knowing how the forest loss occurrences in Indonesia are happening each passing year in several forestry areas, such as Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatera and Papua. The commitment to protect the forests in Indonesia is also expressed by President Joko Widodo through the Paris Agreement, considering how Indonesia hosts one of the largest forests in the world. The initiative needs to be conducted ambitiously and at the fast pace considering how we really need to keep track to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C which expected to happen in 2030 if there is not any immediate action to take in tackling this. The potential catastrophes temperature rise could bring vary from extreme heat, sea level rise, harvesting reduction and further decline in coral reefs. Furthermore, each impact will grow extensive series of issues, such as climate refugees caused by the rise of sea level. Corresponding to this, Indonesia has five key policies of its Low Carbon Development Initiative, which consist of: (1) Advancing a transition to renewable sources of energy and away from coal, (2) A full enforcement of forests, palm oil, mining, and peat land moratoria, (3) increasing land productivity, (4) increasing energy efficiency, and (5) abiding to committed targets in water, fisheries, and biodiversity.

Group Photo

By the end of the lecture, Dr. Arief Wijaya expressed his concern by quoting a statement by the Global Assessment chair, Eduardo S. Brondizio, of how climate, biodiversity, and development cannot be treated independently. All of those three aspects need to be looked at synergistically from local to global levels. In addition, ambition and continuation initiatives from all actors concerning the climate crisis need to work in synergism. Therefore, the role of leader is essential in tackling this issue, considering how the head of nation has the authority to make and direct its policy, with hope that such policy is aligned with the sake of environment perseverance.

Gift Giving