“We must live side by side with trees, and ideally every person should plant at least one tree. Oxygen is a basic human need, so if someone has never planted a tree, that person is not human,” Diaz said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Diaz, who also serves as Deputy Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), noted that a human requires around 0.5 kilogram of oxygen per day, while a single tree can produce up to 1.2 kilograms of oxygen daily. This ratio, he said, underscores the extent to which human existence depends on the preservation of plant life.
According to Diaz, planting trees represents a tangible expression of humanity and responsibility in responding to the global climate crisis.
He made the remarks during a tree-planting campaign in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on Sunday (Jan 11), alongside Presidential Special Envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo.
On the same occasion, Presidential Special Envoy for Climate Change and Energy Transition Hashim Djojohadikusumo said Indonesia frequently bears the brunt of climate change impacts, even though the primary causes originate from developed countries.
Hashim highlighted stark disparities in carbon emissions, noting that the average Indonesian generates about three tonnes of emissions per year, while individuals in developed countries can produce up to 13 tonnes annually.
“As stated by the deputy minister, climate change cannot be addressed in the short term, because its causes originate in other parts of the world. This is a bitter reality for Indonesia,” Hashim said.
The tree-planting initiative in North Tapanuli also serves as a strategic measure to mitigate hydrometeorological disasters. As an upstream area of the Batang Toru River Basin, North Tapanuli plays a crucial role in preventing floods and landslides, which claimed more than 1,000 lives last November.
Related news: Govt ensures legal guarantee for academics in environmental audits
Related news: Ministry considers varied factors for environmental restoration
Translator: Prisca, Azis Kurmala
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
