We have extraordinary huge ecological and economical potential, so we have to control our mindset to face the fact that Indonesia, as candidate for COP26 chief Alok Sharma has described, is a climate superpower of the world.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia can become a "climate superpower" if it is able to take advantage of its existing potential, including its blue carbon assets, chief of the Climate Change Control Advisory Council (DPPPI), Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, has said.



Indonesia is part of a coral triangle zone, which is rich in biodiversity and ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrass beds, capable of absorbing carbon in large quantities, he said during an online discussion on the nation's blue carbon management strategy, originating from Jakarta on Wednesday.



"We have extraordinary huge ecological and economical potential, so we have to control our mindset to face the fact that Indonesia, as candidate for COP26 chief Alok Sharma has described, is a climate superpower of the world," he said.



Indonesia is dubbed as a "climate superpower" since it is endowed with resources that can absorb carbon in the form of forests, peatlands, and water ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrass beds, he expounded.



However, this huge potential is under threat, Kusumaatmadja said.

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The government has unveiled steps to protect its blue carbon assets, including the launch of mangrove rehabilitation programs and inclusion of blue carbon in the document for the greenhouse gas reduction target, he added.



To that end, he encouraged collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the continuity of the ecosystem as part of climate change mitigation efforts.



"That is a challenge which is interesting us. That can make change whether Indonesia will be a failed country or a strong country. Therefore, it must be good at working out the strategy of managing its natural resources in a sustainable way," Kusumaatmadja said. (INE)


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Translator: Prisca Triferna V/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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