Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently brought the G7 Hiroshima Summit’s attention to the unfulfilled promise of the $100 billion climate finance.

In 2009, developed countries pledged to mobilize $100 billion a year by 2020 for climate action in less wealthy nations. At the COP21 in Paris in 2015, rich countries agreed to extend this mobilization goal to 2025.

“Mr. President [Jokowi] told [the G7 Summit] that developing countries are doubting the developed economies’ commitment. Their promise of $100 billion in [climate] finance a year remains unfulfilled,” senior diplomat Retno Marsudi said in a recorded press statement.

“He stated that climate finance must be constructive, and not loans,” Retno said. 

According to Retno, Indonesia told the G7 that the world needed to change its approach in combating climate change, from “burden shifting to burden sharing”. 

Indonesia has updated its nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets. Indonesia now aims to slash 31.89 percent of carbon emissions on its own by 2030 — more ambitious than its initial target of 29 percent emission reduction. Under the enhanced NDC, Indonesia will raise this target to 43.2 percent if it receives international assistance. 

“Such a commitment must be supported by an empowering partnership,” Retno said.

Also, Indonesia informed the G7 leaders what the country had done to tackle climate change, among others, by rehabilitating 600,000-hectare mangrove forests and 3 million hectares of critical lands. The mangrove rehabilitation is expected to finish by 2024. Indonesia claimed that its deforestation rate had dropped to a record low in 20 years.

“Other efforts include an up to 88 percent decline in forest fires. We are building a 30,000-hectare green industrial park, and also encouraging the development of an electric vehicle ecosystem,” Retno said.

Retno was referring to the green industrial park in North Kalimantan. The government previously claimed that this green industrial park would become the world’s largest.

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