"Melbourne and Jakarta face similar challenges, such as flooding, sea level rise, and climate change,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp discussed flood handling and climate change mitigation in order to explore deeper cooperation plans.

"Melbourne and Jakarta face similar challenges, such as flooding, sea level rise, and climate change," said Hartono in a statement received here on Monday.

He highlighted that the two shared various efforts in sustainable urban development and tackling climate change. The two have conducted internship exchanges between public servants and were exploring sister city relations.

From the discussion, Hartono figured that the Melbourne Mayor's Office has made the complete shift to green energy.

Meanwhile, he said that Indonesia has launched the National Carbon Market and Carbon Economic Value to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the efforts to mitigating climate change.

Hartono emphasized that the meeting was a strategic step to deepen relations between Jakarta and Melbourne.

"Melbourne and Jakarta are both members of the C40 Cities, which has a strong commitment to achieving the Paris Agreement to keep global temperature rise from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Mayor Sally Capp supported Jakarta's spirit of cooperation in order to bring vast benefits to both parties.

"Melbourne and Jakarta are centers of economic, cultural, and educational activities in each country, which are expected to improve the people's quality of life," Capp stated.

Capp said that her side had laid emphasis on environmental conservation and climate change mitigation programs in her region.

Melbourne City has initiated the 2021-2026 emission reduction plan and made Melbourne Fashion Week, Melbourne Music Week and Melbourne Knowledge Week to be carbon-neutral, and conducted planting of three thousand trees every year to grow urban forests, among other steps.

Hartono and Capp met during the 28th Conference of State Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai on Saturday (December 2).

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Translator: Luthfia P, Kenzu
Editor: Arie Novarina
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