VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Chairman of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro who is also the Chair of Science20 (S20), one of the involvement groups in the G20 hopes that the G20 forum can increase the role and contribution of science and technology in overcoming climate change and creating clean or emission-free air. pollution.

"The G20 needs to strengthen cooperation to address clean air quality, climate change, and increase the contribution of science and technology to improve the quality of life," said Chairman of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro in the S20 High-Level Policy International Webinar on Applying webinar. Science and Technology for Clean Air and Climate Co-benefits, Thursday (30/6/2022).

He said the G20 should encourage the ability of countries to use science and technology to provide scientific evidence to make decisions in conditions of uncertainty. Where quantitative assessment alone will not be sufficient to guide national policy making.

These national policies and strategic steps are primarily aimed at creating clean air and controlling climate change in order to improve the quality of life of the people.

Satryo said this webinar aims to encourage south-south knowledge sharing among Asian countries, on improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.

"I hope you all have a productive and fruitful discussion to enrich the Science20 Communique for the benefit of the G20 commitments, and for the betterment of the future of 'our only planet'," he said.

The role of robust data is also highlighted for developing a comprehensive clean air and low carbon policy, discussing recent advances in clean technology in Asia, and mechanisms for accelerating clean technology improvements. (RRI)

The United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has partnered with Indonesian companies to promote sustainable business practices and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The United States, through USAID’s Sustainable Environmental Governance Across Regions (SEGAR), signed a memorandum of understanding with two Indonesian companies to improve sustainable commodity production and supply chain as well as land use management, in addition to ensuring that communities receive economic benefits derived from sustainable business practices, the US Embassy in Jakarta stated in a release on Thursday.

"Business activities can be a driver of greenhouse gas emissions. However, businesses can also contribute to solutions to prevent, mitigate, and adapt to climate change," USAID Indonesia Mission Director Jeff Cohen remarked.

The companies that inked the memorandum of understanding are PT Dharma Satya Nusantara Tbk and PT Sawit Sumber Mas Sarana Tbk.

Through SEGAR, the USAID is supporting these companies to develop more sustainable commodity production methods that include peat and land fire prevention management and human-wildlife conflict mitigation, among others.

"Sustainable economic development is everybody’s business. USAID is proud to work with both Indonesian businesses and the Government of Indonesia to achieve our shared sustainability and economic growth goals for generations to come," Cohen added.

In addition, the USAID, through SEGAR, collaborates with the Accountability Framework Initiative (Afi), an initiative that supports businesses to strengthen environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles and practices in their supply chains.

According to the USAID, the partnership with Afi will expand and advance work to setting, implementing, and monitoring effective commitments on deforestation, reducing the impact of ecosystem conversion from forest to productive concession, and human rights in ethical supply chains – including ensuring that companies respect the rights of indigenous people and local communities as well as workers’ rights throughout all partners.

"Catastrophic biodiversity loss is one of the major risks that could pose a threat to the climate and environment in the next 10 years alongside extreme weather, climate action failure, and natural disasters," Director of Forestry and Water Resources Conservation of the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) Nur Hygiawati Rahayu stated.

Bappenas is the implementing agency of USAID's program -- SEGAR.

Companies and businesses can contribute more actively to an inclusive and sustainable green economy through relevant ecosystem restoration and conservation programs to maintain carbon stocks as well as biodiversity conservation.

SEGAR is expected to be an avenue to foster mutual understanding and inspire more companies to implement ESG principles in the future. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his support for an initiative of the United Nations (UN) to ensure resumption of Ukraine's food exports amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

President Jokowi met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Maryinsky Palace, Kyiv, Wednesday, and said that Ukraine played an important role in the world's food supply chain.

"It is important for all parties to provide security guarantees for Ukrainian food exports, including through sea ports. I support the United Nations' efforts in this regard," the president noted in a press statement on Wednesday.

President Jokowi considered the importance of maximum efforts, so that Ukraine could resume exporting food.

A similar statement was earlier made by President Jokowi while attending the G7 Summit for Partner Countries held in Elmau, Germany, on Monday.

At that time, Jokowi sought support from G7 member countries to facilitate Ukraine's wheat exports, so that they could run again soon.

In addition to the reintegration of wheat exports from Ukraine, Jokowi emphasized the importance of exporting food and fertilizer commodities from Russia in global supply chains.

Earlier last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was working hard to establish "solidarity pathways" to facilitate food exports from Ukraine.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also briefly stated that his side was intensively communicating with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States, and the European Union to restore the Ukrainian grain export process amid the threat of a worsening global food crisis.

During his meeting with President Zelenskyy, President Jokowi conveyed his invitation to Ukraine to participate in the G20 Summit in Bali next November. Ukraine is not a member of the G20.

Jokowi also conveyed Indonesia's commitment to continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Ukraine, which this year, marks its 30th anniversary.

"This year is 30 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Ukraine. I convey Indonesia's commitment to continue strengthening cooperation," he remarked.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude and appreciation for President Jokowi's presence in Ukraine.

"Thank you for the presence of President Jokowi, which is the first visit by an Asian leader since the invasion of Ukraine. I also invite Indonesian businesses to participate in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine," he remarked.

From Ukraine, President Jokowi is scheduled to visit Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin.  (Antaranews)

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) continues to boost the prevention of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing through measures, such as increasing the ability of apparatuses to detect on-field violations.

Head of the Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources Agency (BRSDM) at KKP I Nyoman Radiarta noted in a release here on Thursday that his side was collaborating with the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) to organize the "Fisheries Supervision Technical Training" for 23 fishery inspectors in the province of Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) from June 27 to July 1, 2022.

"This commitment is the implementation of the KKP priority program, in terms of implementing measured fishing policies for sustainability and increasing non-tax state revenues that contribute to national economic growth," Radiarta remarked.

In addition, he noted that the task of supervision and law enforcement in the field of fisheries was regulated in Law (UU) No. 45 of 2009 that stipulated that the supervision of fish resources (SDI) is a task given to the KKP for the sustainability of fish resources management.

"IUU Fishing needs to be suppressed to encourage optimal use of fish resources and boost welfare of the main actors as well as increase national economic development through increasing state foreign exchange from the fisheries sector. In its implementation, a competent fisheries supervisor is needed to encourage the utilization of fish resources, especially in Central Kalimantan Province. Of course, this training will be conducted continuously in all regions in Indonesia," Radiarta stated.

Through this training, Radiarta said his side also expects fisheries supervisors to gain a broader understanding of monitoring the management of marine resources, fish processing businesses, distribution of fish products, aquaculture, fishing, operational compliance of fishing vessels, and marine and fishery crimes.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) KKP Suharta cited the Job Creation Law while pressing for fisheries supervision to be integrated.

"I am grateful for the collaboration. The Job Creation Law mandates that supervision to ensure training of business actors is a risk-based licensing carried out by PSDKP. In this case, it is carried out in Central Kalimantan Province, as a form of integration between the center and the regions," he remarked.

Meanwhile, Head of the Marine and Fisheries Training and Extension Center (Puslatluh KP) KKP Lilly Aprilya Pregiwati remarked that this training was an effort to improve the competence of fisheries supervision in managerial, technical, and socio-cultural ways.

Based on Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 47 of 2020 on the Implementation of Fisheries Supervisory Duties, one of the requirements to become a fishery supervisor is to partake in fishery supervisor training. In this case, trainees must go through basic and technical training as evidenced by a training certificate.

"We continue to work together with related parties to improve managerial, technical, and socio-cultural competencies. Through the equalization policy, more and more functional positions are handled by regional civil servants," she explained. (Antaranews)