"To realize a carbon neutral city by 2045, the Indonesian government has launched a scoping study," he noted in a statement here on Thursday.
The scoping study was launched along with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to map out IKN's steps to become a carbon neutral city.
This study was announced at an event at the Indonesian Pavilion on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Tuesday.
This step reinforced IKN Nusantara's commitment to contributing to "Nationally-Determined Contributions" (NDCs) in line with the Paris Agreement, he added.
The jointly launched study indicated that the development of IKN Nusantara as a sustainable forest city will be able to encourage more ambitious rehabilitation efforts in the IKN area.
"As the first sustainable forest-based capital city in the world, IKN Nusantara is ready to lead Indonesia's contribution on the global stage in mitigating the impacts of climate change," he affirmed.
IKN Nusantara's plan to keep 65 percent of its area as a protected area could increase carbon sequestration.
In addition, it will allow IKN to absorb more carbon than it releases as a net sink before 2030 or before reaching a carbon neutral position by 2045.
The steps taken by IKN Nusantara will contribute to Indonesia's target of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2060 and achieving a net sink in the land sector by 2030 that is in line with Indonesia's NDC to support the Paris Agreement.
"This study is the first comprehensive analysis of 'regionally and locally-determined contributions' at the city level in Indonesia," he stated.
Meanwhile, ADB Vice President for Southeast Asian, East Asian, and Pacific Affairs Ahmed M. Saeed stated that the active participation of provincial and city and district governments in the vanguard of national policy implementation is very important for achieving national commitments to the Paris Agreement.
"ADB is pleased to assist the IKN Authority in taking decisive steps in the fight against climate change. This study further identifies steps for IKN to be on the path to achieving zero carbon emissions," Saeed noted as quoted in the statement.
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Translator: M Ghofar, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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