VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Former minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Bambang Brodjonegoro (center) in conversation with Singapore's Minister of Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli (right) after speaking at the 5th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources in Singapore, Friday (5/18). The dialogue, attended by various stakeholders, discussed ways to achieve economic growth in accordance with the Paris Agreement. (ANTARA News/Virna P Setyorini) - 

The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) has assessed that Indonesia's target to lower carbon emissions is yet not in accordance with the Paris agreement.

IESR Green Economy Program Manager Lisa Wijayani stated that the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Long-term Strategy on Low Carbon and Climate Resilience (LTS-LCCR) 2050 documents recently released by the government tended to focus on economic recovery instead of climate recovery.

"To become a developed country, Indonesia must be able to record rapid economic growth and be supported by very strong climate resilience," Wijayani noted in a statement here on Friday.

The government will present the NDC document and LTS-LCCR 2050 document at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12, 2021.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) noted that the two documents were prepared based on the COVID-19-triggered economic slump that had prompted the government to channel greater attention on economic recovery efforts in order to achieve Indonesia's Vision 2045 to become a developed country.

"The climate crisis necessitates serious attention, as it could have a negative impact on human development, economic progress, and social equity,” Wijayani stated.

The IESR stated that the LTS-LCCR 2050 document still places coal as a source of electricity.

This is apparent from the large number of steam power plants (PLTU) as well as the use of carbon capture and storage technology (CCS/CCUS) to reduce emissions.

The technology is still considered to be expensive, with a capital expenditure of more than US$4,200 per kilowatt. Moreover, technical and economic factors determine the feasibility of the technology as compared to the use of renewable energy plants.

In addition, the use of CCS/CCUS technology in PLTU will in fact increase investment costs in PLTU by 74 percent, thereby leading to a rise in the cost of constructing power plants.

The IESR study titled "Deep Decarbonization of Indonesia's Energy System: A Pathway to Zero Emissions" found that Indonesia still could achieve zero emissions in its electricity system by 2045 and its energy system by 2050 by utilizing 100-percent renewable energy//ANT

The distribution of wheelchair assistance for a person with disabilities in Kediri City on Friday (July 30, 2021). (ANTARA/ HO-Kediri Social Office/RA) - 

The Social Office of Kediri, East Java, has provided wheelchairs for people with disabilities in the city as a form of support amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of the Social Rehabilitation Division of the Kediri City Social Office, Luluk Nita Kumala, noted here on Friday that her side at the Social Office was working hard to assist people with disabilities by providing wheelchairs to enable them to conduct their activities more comfortably.

"To support the activities of people with disabilities, we provide assistance according to their needs. It should be underlined that people with disabilities have the same rights as others," she pointed out.

Kumala remarked that the wheelchairs were distributed at four points in the Kediri City area in the villages of Tinalan, Burengan, Semampir, and Tamanan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, four residents have, so far, received wheelchair assistance, according to Kumala.

She revealed that the data on people with disabilities in need of assistance was obtained from their companions and the rapid reaction team (TRC) located in each village. On confirmation of the data, assistance will be provided to the beneficiaries.

"The process to avail social assistance entails submitting a proposal for approval by the village authorities and addressed to the mayor of Kediri. If the proposal is approved, the Social Office will distribute the assistance,” she expounded.

Samirin, a resident of Burengan Village, Kediri City, admitted that the wheelchair was immensely beneficial to him. He noted that all this time, he lived only with his son. However, he admitted to it being difficult for him to even put food on the table since his child was still sick.

Kasmudji, another recipient of the wheelchair assistance, was also pleased and through his son Tutut, expressed gratitude for the wheelchair assistance provided by the government.

"Thank you very much for the support given to my father. Hopefully, this assistance would make my father’s life easier," Tutut remarked.

Kumala noted that the Kediri city government had always prepared budgets to help residents in need, including people with disabilities. The pandemic has failed to deter the government from tending to the residents’ needs, she emphasized.

In addition to the wheelchair assistance, the Social Office offers opportunities to people with disabilities to develop their creativity, she revealed//ANT

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian. (ANTARA/HO-Home Affairs Ministry/uyu) - 

Home Affairs Minister (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian has encouraged local governments to keep up their hard work and take anticipatory steps to contain the pandemic, according to a statement received here on Friday.

The minister offered the encouragement during a visit to Kendal District, Central Java Province, for a coordination meeting with Kendal District Head Dico M Ganinduto, and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo at the Kendal District Hall.

The Home Ministry’s director general of regional autonomy, Akmal M Piliang, director general of politics and general administration, Bahtiar, director general of regional finance, Mochamad Ardian Noervianto, as well as chief of the Information Center (Kapuspen), Benni Irwan, also attended the meeting.

"We come here to motivate you (local governments) as our colleagues in handling the COVID-19 Delta variant. You have to be more aware and anticipative of the pandemic," the minister said.

In the past two weeks, Karnavian has visited several regions across Java – including Bekasi District, Depok City, Indramayu District, and Cirebon District in West Java.

In Banten, he held meetings with the head of Tangerang District, Tangerang City, as well as South Tangerang City. He also encouraged them to remain united and devoted in fighting the coronavirus.

Karnavian said he chose to visit Brebes and Kendal Districts in Central Java since both are industrial areas.

"We hope the areas will not be new COVID-19 industrial clusters," he remarked.

Noting there has been a decline in the COVID-19 infection rate in Kendal District after the enforcement of public activity restrictions (PPKM), the minister reminded the local government to keep working hard as only 26.8 percent of health workers’ incentives had been disbursed.

He urged the Kendal district government to hold a meeting with the regional Health Office regarding the distribution of incentives, saying health workers are at the front lines of handling the pandemic//ANT

The Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board and Gojek inked an MoU on the development of digital MSMEs in Indonesia on Thursday (July 29, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Investment/BKPM) - 

The Ministry of Investment/Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and ride hailing application company Gojek have inked a collaboration agreement for developing digital MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises).

The ministry and Gojek, also known asPT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday under which they will collaborate on an information dissemination program on business licensing for MSMEs, provide business establishment assistance, resolve business barriers for MSMEs, as well as foster and develop skills for digital-based MSMEs.

The BKPM has, from the beginning, emphasized the importance of encouraging MSME entrepreneurs to develop and advance their businesses, deputy for investment cooperation at the Ministry of Investment (BKPM), Riyatno, said in a statement received here on Friday.

One of the challenges to this is that MSMEs do not understand the legalities of business licensing or own licenses, which prevent them from obtaining financing to develop their businesses from financial institutions, he explained.

"The target of the Ministry of Investment/BKPM is to provide legalization or help provide ease of licensing to as many MSME actors as possible throughout Indonesia. This Memorandum of Understanding is one of the efforts to provide ease to MSME actors, especially under Gojek," Riyatno said.

The Ministry of Investment will implement risk-based business licensing through the OSS system on August 2, 2021, he added.

"We hope that this collaboration can help MSEs, especially small business actors, to obtain business licenses through the OSS System, such as the Business Identification Number (NIB), which functions not only as identity and legality, but can also function as SNI (Indonesian National Standard) identifier and also product guarantee certification. This is one of the facilities provided by the government through this OSS system," he added.

Meanwhile, director for public policy and government relations at Gojek, Shinto Nugroho, said the collaboration is in line with Gojek's commitment to assisting the digitization of MSMEs through technological solutions to help them adapt to a changing business environment.

"In addition to technological solutions, Gojek also supports the development of MSMEs through various programs, including educational sessions and programs to expand business scale," he added.

He said he believed that collaboration with BKPM would provide business partners in the Gojek ecosystem with useful support for running a sustainable business//ANT