We remain committed to achieving the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to curtail the negative impact of climate change.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan reiterated Indonesia's commitment to supporting a green and sustainable economy despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"We remain committed to achieving the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to curtail the negative impact of climate change," Pandjaitan stated here at the 7th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources (SDSWR) held virtually on Wednesday.

Indonesia has targeted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020 and by 29 percent in 2030.

The country also outlined a target to lower carbon emissions by 17.3 percent in the forestry sector; energy, 11 percent; waste, 0.32 percent; agriculture, 0.13 percent; and industry and transportation, 0.11 percent.

Pandjaitan elaborated that Indonesia, as a country with abundant natural resources, will continue to restore and rehabilitate its mangroves, coral reefs, and peatlands.

Furthermore, the country will continually strive to reduce land-sourced litter and plastic waste to the sea by encouraging the technology-based waste to energy program.

The minister noted that the government had inaugurated a garbage processing plant by utilizing refuse derived fuel (RDF) in Cilacap, Central Java, in July, wherein the garbage will be processed into briquettes to replace coal.

The use of briquettes as fuel in the industry is expected to lower exhaust gas and methane emissions.

"Through technological intervention, we have developed the waste to energy program by using RDF in Cilacap and a pilot project at the Bantargebang landfill in Bekasi," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Singapore's Minister of Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu encouraged regional cooperation in the ASEAN for a greener future in the region.

Fu affirmed that most parts in Southeast Asia were free from forest fires and haze this year, though the risk was omnipresent.

"I want to admit that the strong leadership of President Joko Widodo’s administration has led to a successful reduction in the incidents of land and forest fires in Indonesia. With the climate change and warmer and drier weather in the coming years, regional cooperation should be increased to realize the vision of ASEAN as a smog-free region," Fu noted. Related news: Green recovery to boost environment-based economic transformation: RI
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Translator: Ade Irma Junida, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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