"We see the possible potential hazard and after calculating and evaluating the potential economic loss, it could reach Rp544 trillion," he informed during a media briefing on “Measuring the Progress of Low Carbon and Green Economy” in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The potential economic losses of Rp544 trillion cover four sectors, namely, coastal and marine (Rp408 trillion), water (Rp26 trillion), agriculture (Rp78 trillion), and health (Rp31 trillion), he said.
In Indonesia alone, there has been an increase in the intensity of hydrometeorological disasters, with 5,402 events recorded in 2021, he added.
Of the 5,402 natural disasters in 2021, 98–99 percent were hydrometeorological disasters.
Thus, climate change must be handled without delay through climate resilience policies, Medrilzam said.
Currently, Indonesia and other countries are facing a triple planetary crisis, namely climate change, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity that will threaten the future of the earth and humans.
Based on data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2022, the climate change crisis will threaten about 50–75 percent of the global population by the year 2100.
Based on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2022, air pollution has been named the largest cause of disease and premature death in the world, with 4.2 million deaths recorded every year.
Meanwhile, based on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) 2019, loss of biodiversity can threaten human health and ecosystem services.
There are currently about one million plant and animal species facing the threat of extinction.
"While we are experiencing three major threats and the COVID-19 pandemic as well, this creates a setback for our development even though we already have Vision 2045. We want to be equal with other developed countries," he disclosed.
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Translator: Astrid Faidlatul H, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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