VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya said that Indonesia must seriously control climate change. One of which is reflected in the Forest and Other Land Use or FoLU Net Sink 2030.

In a written statement in Jakarta on Monday (18/100, Minister Siti Nurbaya conveyed that Indonesia's serious commitment through the FoLU Net Sink 2030 is important, real, and concrete. This commitment includes various activities, policies, and anticipations on various issues and every stakeholders' participation in all forest agenda. These agenda include land and forest fire mitigation, deforestation, peatland, conservation, and biodiversity.

According to Minister Siti Nurbaya, climate change control is also done through policy, empowerment, and law enforcement. In recent years, some achievements have included deforestation rate reduction, natural forest and peatland conversion prevention, and forest fire reduction.

Furthermore, Minister Siti Nurbaya shared her experience during the COP 26 in Glasgow. On the occasion, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John F Kerry said that with its potential, Indonesia's role is crucial in controlling climate change. What happened in Indonesia can bring about a big impact towards the whole world.

John F Kerry further said that under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, Indonesia has made a great advancement in decreasing deforestation rate and primary forest conversion moratorium. Indonesian deforestation rate between 2019-2020 was the lowest in the last 20 years. Indonesia is also implementing a new initiative in restoring hundreds of thousands of hectares of degraded mangrove for the next four years. Those efforts, as said by John Kerry, is crucial.

Meanwhile, World Bank Country Director for Indonesia and Timor Leste, Satu Kahkonen said that she understood Indonesia has been working and ambitious enough in controlling climate change. Therefore, the World Bank will support Indonesia's ambition in reducing carbon emission during Indonesia Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Indonesian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Roem Kono encourages the active role of the Indonesian diaspora to improve Indonesia-Bosnia economic relations. The role of the Indonesian diaspora is important to help promote Indonesia and its products. This was said by Ambassador Roem Kono in a discussion entitled ‘Diaspora as Supporting the National Economy’ which took place virtually from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Sarajevo, Tuesday (19/10). He also stated that diaspora becomes a potential marketer for Indonesian products worldwide. Furthermore, the contribution of the Indonesian diaspora is also expected to help the government's efforts to explore international markets for business development.

The role of the diaspora in international economic cooperation was also emphasized by entrepreneur Dadan Irawan Sarpingi who was the speaker in the discussion. He said that the diaspora has three roles as export support, suppliers of domestic needs and investment support. Dadan thinks that diasporas also play an important role as market influencers because they are more familiar with the market in their local country. As the leader of a company engaged in the transportation sector and has penetrated into several countries, Dadan conveys his plan to expand his business to Bosnia. With the better condition of the Covid-19, now the homework is to rebuild the economy.

Meanwhile, President of the Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN), Global, Kartini Sarsilaningsih welcomed the government's call and the intention of Indonesian businesspeople to cooperate with the diasporas. She thinks that IDN Global has also helped companies and Indonesian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises to market their products and services in several countries. But considering the limited number of diaspora entrepreneurs, Kartini expects efforts from the government, entrepreneurs and business associations to further empower the Indonesian diasporas. For example, Indonesian importers who already have a business license in another country may be able to train the diasporas from the professional instructors, students or housewives to be empowered as their marketing representatives. Kartini also emphasized that the diaspora organization that she leads is open to cooperate with all parties, including local governments who want to promote their local products in the international market.

President Joko Widodo along with some friend countries' ambassadors and local community planted mangrove in Tana Tidung, North Kalimantan on Tuesday (19/10). That was one of many efforts by the Indonesian government in multiplying and rehabilitating mangrove forest.

As quoted from presidenri.go.id (19/10), President Joko Widodo explained that there are 180 thousand hectares of mangrove forest in North Kalimantan to be rehabilitated. He targets 600 thousand hectares of mangrove forest that can be rehabilitated in the next three years.

Some ambassadors and World Bank representatives who joined the mangrove planting appreciated the Indonesian government's program. World Bank's Country Director, Satu Kahkonen said that the program has a great meaning both for Indonesia and the whole world. Meanwhile, Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia, Kurt Kunz hopes that the mangrove rehab can be an example and stimulus for communities in Indonesia and the world.

The Mangrove planting programs play a crucial role in supporting carbon pollution reduction. Mangrove forest multiplication and rehab as done by President Joko Widodo is also a move to mitigate climate change.

Based on data from the Maritime and Fishery Ministry, as quoted from kkp.go.id (19/8), Indonesian mangrove forest is the biggest in the world, namely 3.2 million hectares or 22.4% of world's mangrove forest. This shows that Indonesia has a quite significant contribution in reducing carbon emission.

Research results in 2019, as quoted from lipi.go.id, showed that one square meter of mangrove forest can store 50 kg carbon. This carbon storage capacity is important in the climate change effect reduction process.

Therefore, mangrove replanting by the government should be followed by the awareness and involvement of the people living around the mangrove forest. They need to understand the importance of preserving the mangrove ecosystem. 

Efforts to revive the Nuclear agreement between Iran and the European Union still need time due to the failure of the new round of talks between the two parties in Vienna on Monday, October 18, 2021. Both Iran and the European Union still have to take diplomatic approaches to reach an understanding before meeting again in Brussels.

In the talks in Vienna, Iran was represented by the envoy of President Ibrahim Reisi, who the West highlighted as a hard-line figure. The EU and Iran nuclear deal began to run into problems when the United States withdrew from the agreement during the Trump administration. The approach was taken again, when the Joe Biden administration said it would return to the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal, which involved the United States, was signed in 2015 with talks led by European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini. In its implementation which began in 2016, the European Union played an important role as a coordinator to carry out transactions.

On the basis of the JCPOA, the European Union also lifted economic and financial sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear program. Apparently, the nuclear deal has paved the way for the renewal and expansion of relations between the European Union and Iran. The European Union is also investing in Iran's nuclear project safety program. Economically, the JCPOA has had a good impact on the value of exports and imports between the European Union and Iran. In the first year the JCPOA was implemented, it was recorded that EU imports from Iran were 5.5 billion Euros. In contrast, EU exports to Iran reached more than 8 billion euros. EU investment in Iran covers several sectors including energy, automotive and transportation. Therefore, the cessation of a comprehensive agreement between the European Union and Iran can be said to have an economic impact on both parties. The JCPOA was again hindered when Ibrahim Reisi, who is said to be a hardliner, was elected President of Iran in June 2021.

Judging from the merits and benefits of implementing the JCPOA, further discussion is certainly needed. The failure of the talks in Vienna does not mean that the efforts of both the European Union and Iran have stopped. That in Vienna Iran has not been able to reach an agreement, it is very possible because President Ibrahim El Eisi and his government still need to consider several crucial things. Regarding the outcome of the upcoming talks in Brussels, of course it is up to both parties whether there will be progress or will it stop.