Press Release: Climate Change Experts Remind the Urgency of Climate Change Control

PRESS RELEASE

Jaringan Ahli Perubahan Iklim dan Kehutanan Indonesia
(APIKI Network)

Yogyakarta, Sunday 22 April 2018.

Climate Change Experts Remind the Urgency of Climate Change Control

APIKI Network. Parties, especially central and regional leaders and legislators need to be aware of the urgency of climate change mitigation and adaptation to encourage capacity building of institutions in controlling climate change. This was conveyed by Mahawan Karuniasa, Chairman of Indonesian Expert Network on Climate Change and Forestry (APIKI Network) in Yogyakarta in a meeting of experts and researchers on climate change and forestry on APIKI Scientists Gathering. The meeting is part of the Pre Event Asia Pacific Rainforest Summit (APRS) organized by the Research, Development and Innovation Agency and APIKI Network. The proposed theme is the implementation of Emission Reduction from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) to the achievement of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) or Indonesia’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions based on the Paris Agreement. Chairman of the National Focal Point (NFP) on Climate Change Nur Masripatin also highlighted the importance of REDD+’s role in meeting Indonesia’s commitment to emissions reductions, since 60% of emission reduction targets in 2030 come from the NDC Forestry sector, mostly in the REDD+ area.

In its NDC documents, Indonesia is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 29% with own capabilities and up to 41% if through international partnerships. A report on the development of the 3rd climate change control of Indonesia reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), informed that by 2014 national greenhouse gas emissions will reach 1.844 giga tons of CO2 equivalent. Estimated in 2015 during major fires, emissions continue to rise to 1.995 giga tonnes of CO2 equivalent. If this condition continues, without any significant action, then by 2030 it is estimated that the emission will reach 2.869 giga ton of CO2 equivalent. This situation is not only experienced by Indonesia, but also by other countries. That is, the average rise in surface temperature of the earth is predicted to still penetrate more than 2 degrees Celsius in the 2080s, even earlier. Of course the impact of climate change such as hydrometeorological disaster will continue to increase, both floods, landslides, hurricanes and others.

As Chairman, Mahawan Karuniasa ensures that APIKI Networks members from 101 universities and related institutions will continue to support and inspire the public, legislature, government, especially through the National Focal Point (NFP) to continuously improve the capacity of institutions and other parties in climate mitigation and adaptation of climate change. There is still a lot of homework to be done to meet the national emissions targets by 2030, let alone to reach global goals so that the temperature rise does not exceed 2 degrees Celsius.