InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - The People's Alliance for Climate Justice (ARUKI) criticized the statement made by Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, questioning Indonesia's commitment to the Paris Agreement as a sign of the government's indifference to climate justice and neglect of the suffering of those affected by the climate crisis. Bahlil's remarks were made in the context of discussions on global commitments to climate change, where he referred to the United States as the "driving force" behind the Paris Agreement and questioned why Indonesia should continue its commitments.
"This statement reflects a lack of understanding and concern from the government regarding the urgency of the climate crisis and a reluctance to prioritize the climate justice agenda," said Giorgio B. Indrarto, Deputy Director of MADANI Berkelanjutan, in an official statement reported by InfoSAWIT on Sunday (February 2, 2025).
ARUKI views Bahlil's statement as an unwise step backward that could undermine Indonesia's credibility in the international community. The Paris Agreement, which emerged from the long struggle of countries worldwide, including Indonesia, aims to hold industrialized nations accountable for the climate crisis while safeguarding the rights of people in poor and developing countries.
"Ignoring the commitments of the Paris Agreement means neglecting the safety of the people, especially vulnerable groups, from the increasingly unavoidable threats of the climate crisis," emphasized Indira Hapsari from the Indonesian Foundation for Strengthening Participation, Initiatives, and Community Partnerships (YAPPIKA).
The Increasingly Real Impact of the Climate Crisis
The European Climate Change Agency (Copernicus) has reported that global temperatures have, for the first time, exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius, the safe limit set by the Paris Agreement. In Indonesia, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded 6,827 weather and climate-related disasters in 2023-2024, affecting over 13 million people.
Public consultations conducted by ARUKI in 13 provinces in Indonesia also revealed that vulnerable groups, such as farmers, fishermen, women, persons with disabilities, and indigenous communities, bear the brunt of the climate crisis. They face damage and loss of homes, land, income, and even forced migration due to climate change.
ARUKI asserts that neglecting the commitments of the Paris Agreement constitutes a violation of Indonesia's legal and moral obligations. Indonesia ratified the Paris Agreement through Law No. 16 of 2016 and further regulated the fulfillment of these commitments through Presidential Regulation No. 98 of 2021. Additionally, Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management mandates the government to address the climate crisis.
"Bahlil's statement shows that the government does not recognize the differing impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable groups. In fact, implementing the Paris Agreement based on the principle of climate justice can save people from the triple planetary crisis," said Torry Kuswardono, Executive Director of the PIKUL Foundation.
ARUKI believes that Bahlil's statement reflects a government character that continues to prioritize development and economic agendas based on the exploitation of natural resources, particularly coal, over commitments to climate justice. Coal is a primary driver of the climate crisis.
"Rationalizing the continued use of coal as a primary energy source ignores serious implications for climate justice and reduces the obligations of industrialized nations in the context of ecological debt," said Risma Umar, Executive Director of Aksi! Gender, Social, and Ecological Justice.
Syaharani from the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) added, "Building energy sovereignty and resilience while allowing communities to bear the negative impacts of coal is tantamount to violating the right to a good and healthy environment."
Therefore, ARUKI calls on the Indonesian government to implement the Paris Agreement with concrete actions, including setting early retirement targets for coal-fired power plants (PLTU). They also demand the facilitation of an inclusive and just Renewable Energy Transition, increasing access to clean energy for the people, and prioritizing climate justice without sacrificing the interests of vulnerable groups in climate change mitigation and development agendas.
Finally, they urge the acceleration of discussions on the Climate Justice Bill, which has entered the National Legislative Program, involving meaningful public participation, especially from vulnerable groups.
"Weakening climate commitments could trigger forest exploitation through claims of green energy from bioenergy. The government needs to clarify the concept of energy sovereignty and promote a just and sustainable energy transformation," emphasized Amalya Reza Oktaviani from Trend Asia.
With this call, ARUKI hopes the government can take decisive steps to protect the Indonesian people from the increasingly threatening impacts of the climate crisis. (T2)