The cost of delaying climate actions would be considerably higher than the cost of acting now, said European Union Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam HE Vincent Piket to 153 people attending the interactive webinar entitled “Mainstreaming Climate Resilience in City Planning” on 27 October 2020 hosted by CRIC, as part of the European Union Climate Diplomacy Week.
Over the course of three hours, panellists from the Indonesian ministries discussed national priorities in climate resilience, policies and regulations to support city-level climate programme and climate financing mechanisms. The participants are government representatives from 43 Indonesian cities and regencies, including Vice Mayor of Kupang and Vice Mayor of Surakarta.
Keynote speakers and panellists shared the same view of the urgency to take climate actions through an integrated and institutionalised climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. The Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Director General for Climate Change Dr. Ruandha Agung Sugardiman said that climate change could shave 3.4% off the Indonesia’s GDP by 2030 as it affects key sectors such as water, food and energy.
The impact of climate change has already been felt by Indonesian cities. Mr. Anak Agung Gede Putra, the MoEF’s Head of Sub-directorate for Adaptation Planning shared that from 2009 to 2019, Indonesian cities experienced 3,768 disasters, especially hydro-meteorological disasters, due to climate change. In adapting to these changes, cities need to conduct climate risks and vulnerabilities assessment to help them strategise mitigation and adaptation actions. Mainstreaming climate resilience into city planning, likewise, is a mandatory action.
During the second part of the webinar, panellists explained national plans and policies to help cities mainstream climate resilience in their regional plans. Dr. Mia Amalia, the Indonesia Ministry of National Development Planning’s Acting Director for Regional Development said that the Government of Indonesia has embedded resilience and inclusivity in its national plan. “Indonesia’s National Urban Development Policy 2045 sets targets to increase urban services through policy instrument, institutionalisation and financing,” she said.
She added that Indonesia’s 2021 annual work plan would be focused on rebuilding the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, attention will also be given to urban policies in regards to smart city, disaster preparedness, environment and climate change. This can help cities to align their plans and programme with the national’s.
Indonesian cities can use the momentum of Regional Elections to create long-term climate-resilient pathways. Ms. Irawati, panellist from the Regional Development Directorate of Ministry of Home Affairs explained that local governments hosting the General Elections are required to prepare Strategic Environmental Assessment to support Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (KLHS-RPJMD), as stated in the Regulation of Minister of Home Affairs No. 7/2018 concerning KLHS-RPJMD development processes. “Through KLHS-RPJMD, local governments can integrate climate change into development planning document. Climate change and disaster risk reductions are two regional strategic issues that local governments must pay attention to. However, the implementation also depends on local capacities and needs,” she said.
Financing is another key factor to accelerate climate actions. Dr. Irwanda Wisnu Wardhana, the Ministry of Finance’ Fiscal Policy Agency researcher explained that Indonesia has set out fiscal policies and support to curb climate change, such as through tax incentives, climate change budget tagging and innovative financing. The national government also releases incentives for local governments that have waste reduction strategies and programme in place. “Through fiscal policies and support, Indonesia is committed to achieving the NDC target. However, national government has limited fiscal resources. So, it is important for local governments to explore other financing mechanisms,” he said.
Through the webinar, Indonesian cities learned how policy integration, governance and climate financing play a role in accelerating city-level climate actions. These are issues that CRIC will continue to promote through knowledge exchange and training activities.
This is one of webinar series that CRIC is hosting, to help CRIC’s pilot cities mainstream climate resilience in the KLHS-RPJMD, especially for the five pilot cities holding Regional Elections on 9 December 2020. The first webinar seeks to inform cities about policies and development priorities at a national level; strengthen national government support to the project implementation at a city level; propose city plans that mainstream climate change and climate resilience; and provide inputs to help cities formulate climate proof policies and plans.
Watch the webinar: https://youtu.be/dXiPuVuj8H0
