The New President and the Continuity of Environmental Policy Implementation by Kholida Widyawati

“The world opinion is now zooming us like a laser beam. Many doubt if we can make a breakthrough. Many do not believe that we can. There are very few optimists. And yet others ask whether we should prioritize climate issues when there is an urgent global financial crisis. We are here as leaders not negotiators – that is the job of our officials in the climate change rounds. But even though we are here to negotiate, we must send the right and positive signals to the world, a signal that climate change remains our top priority even as we wrestle with the financial crisis.”

Said Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the G20 Leaders Summit, which was held in Pittsburgh, on September 2009. In that conference, the member countries dealt to create efforts by their national policies, in order to reduce the global emission. Indonesia is one of the countries that plays an important role and Its national policies should have a gigantic effect in the global effort to tackle the climate change. That’s because Indonesia owns large size of forest that potentially help to absorbed the carbons. But the bad news is, high rate of deforestation turns its function from being a carbon sink to being the big contributor of 60% from the country’s national emission – that also affects much to the global’s emission.

For Its role, Indonesia committed to do some efforts especially in forestry sector, such as: making National Action on Climate Change on 2020 and 2050, reduce the national emission from the BAU (Business As Usual) sector which is included in LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry) to the 26% or 41% -- with the help of international partners, and minimize the the deforestation and use the eco-friendly energy.The Letter of Intent between Indonesia and The Royal Norwegia was also signed in May 2010, as the next effort of the commitment relates to commitment and some policies have been applied since 2011.  

Those are good intentions from the government, actually. But,problems emerged everywhere that make the effectivity of the policy implementation to the minimum level. And…  Will it sustain while it’s currently facing an another challenge?

An Another Challenge for Policy Continuity: Transition Phase

On July 9th 2014, Indonesia held Its biggest democration party which was welcomed by excitements of Its people. Based on the recapitulation, Joko Widodo or well-known as Jokowi selected as the Indonesian President for the 2014-2019 and will do the presidential tasks starting from this October 20th 2014.

We know, the transition phase is always challenging. It means that almost every part of the government, will be replaced by new people and how the new government can understand about the policies and its implementations. As a part of the efforts to solve the problem, the current President, Susilo BambangYudhoyono has had a private meeting with the future president, Joko Widodo and discussed some main important issues and policies, including the issues about environment.

Good Signal from The Incoming President

Idiosyncratically, there’s no doubt that Jokowi will create good policies and decisions about environment. “Why” must emergedand the answer is: the knowledge that he has about environment, especially forestry. Jokowi is a Forestry Engineer and studied in Department of Forestry in Universitas Gajah Mada, Jogjakarta, in 1985. His experiences as a Mayor of Solo and Governor of Jakarta also showed that he’s competent and concern in creating both of those cities to become green, clean and well-managed.

His knowledge was proved through his statements and answers in Presidential Debate about “Food Security, Energy and Environment”. Jokowi dominated the debate and understood many issues related to the environment problems and the solutions. he also zoomed in about how environmental problems in forestry sector need to be solved in his governance period.

Furthermore, Jokowi said in some medias that under his governance Indonesia will back Singapore's plan to increase fines on those responsible for haze pollution. Haze that was polluted Singapore and Malaysia that came from fires in Indonesia’s peatland possibly make the relations between Indonesia and the two countries turn into bad. Even though the policy categorizes burning as an illegal action, the response from the government was too slow and through this statement, he showed us his good intentions about environmental issue.

So, Why Don’t Try to Be Optimistic?

The incoming President hasn’t start the presidential tasks yet by knowing his backgrounds, experiences, knowledge and early actions to solve the environmental problems – So, it’s too early to be pessimistic. Besides, I think there’s nothing wrong to feel optimistic for having him as the next president that can possibly solve the environmental problems we have. Hopefully, the implementation will be following all of those good things so that this country can fulfill Its commitment to reduce the national emissions to the 41% by or before 2020.