"We all know that the climate crisis and environmental crisis are real, not fiction, not a hoax," SBY stated in the lecture series forum of The Yudhoyono Institute (TYI) titled "Sustainable Growth with Equity" here on Monday.
He emphasized that collective, cross-border action is essential given the global scale of the threat.
"Therefore, our joint action must also be real and have a real impact," he added.
SBY highlighted that the world's situation is becoming increasingly complex and concerning.
Instead of uniting to address common threats such as climate change, he stated that many countries remain caught in geopolitical conflicts, major power rivalries, and also trade and economic wars.
"I, who led this country for 10 years and was involved in various global events, am quite concerned about the world's increasingly complicated and dangerous situation," he stated.
As a result, environmental issues and climate change receive less public attention than other issues.
"Once again, (I) remind you that there is a big issue that we must not let happen because it will have a bad impact on all nations around the world," he stated.
He fears that efforts to address the climate crisis will be undermined if nations around the world fail to build unity and cooperation.
"I think everyone agrees that what we want is a more peaceful world, a more just world, a more prosperous world, a world that provides hope for everyone regardless of identity ties, regardless of international boundaries," he affirmed.
Therefore, SBY invited all global stakeholders, including universities, to strengthen cross-sector collaboration to find concrete solutions based on science and technology.
"We must increase our togetherness, our cooperation, our concern, our solutions, including the right policies and the right collaboration," he stressed.
At the lecture series forum of TYI, which was also attended by academics from within and outside the country, SBY expressed his support for various initiatives that encourage sustainable growth with the principle of justice.
"We believe that what we are doing can actually save the future, the nations, and the future of the world, the future of our children and grandchildren," the former president stated.
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Translator: Luqman Hakim, Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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