Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
IDXChannel - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia have the same vision regarding the importance of collectivity and inclusivity to address the challenges of climate changes.
"The UAE is committed to support Indonesia's target of having 23% of its power generated by renewables by 2025, and 31% by 2030," he stated.
The two countries have excluded initiatives and projects to foster their partnership to play vital role in driving a global collaborative response to climate change risks.
In 2021, the UAE and Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Mangrove Management and Conservation.
Under the MoU, the UAE and Indonesia working on launching joint programs aimed at studying, assessing, managing, protecting, and restoring mangrove ecosystems, including a study on mangrove ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration and ecotourism, and their economic valuation. Moreover, the two countries seek to build capacities in relevant fields through knowledge transfer, technical training and workshops, and joint publication of research findings and achievements.
Currently, the UAE and Indonesia are collaborating in establishing an international mangrove research center to promote mangrove as a nature-based solution to fight climate change.
In 2022, the UAE and Indonesia announced the launch of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC). Led by the UAE and Indonesia, the initiative seeks to scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of communities worldwide. Five other countries – India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and Spain – have joined the Alliance.
MAC seeks to raise awareness about the role of mangroves as a nature-based climate change solution, and, through its members, will work towards expanding and rehabilitating mangrove forests globally.
Furthermore, It is planned that Indonesian President Joko Widodo will soon inaugurate the Cirata Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant on a 225ha section of the Cirata Reservoir in West Java, which is constructed by Masdar and PT PJB.
COP28
The UAE is set to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).
The event will be held in Expo City Dubai from 30 November 30 to 12 December.
The COP28 will welcome high-level participation, including over 140 heads of state, senior government leaders, over 70,000 participants and more than 5,000 media professionals.
"I call on all Indonesian stakeholders to utilize the COP28 to come up with initiatives and projects that support Indonesia`s commitments to reduce emissions, to include food systems into Indonesia`s climate plans, restoring ecosystems, and transition to clean energy," said UAE Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulla Salem AlDhehari during a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday (2/11/2023).
The UAE was the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement in 2016, the first to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions, and the first in the region to announce a Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.
The UAE is home to three of the largest and lowest cost solar plants in the world and was the first country in the region to deploy industrial-scale carbon capture technology, the first to deploy zero-emission civil nuclear energy in the Arab world - with the Barakah plant now the single-largest source of clean electricity in the region - and a pioneer in new zero-carbon energies such as hydrogen.
The COP28 presidency has developed comprehensive plans to enhance global climate action. This action plan is based on five pillars.
First, accelerating an organized, responsible, and equitable transition in the energy sector. second, developing climate finance mechanisms. third, focus on life and livelihoods. fourth, protecting and restoring ecosystems. Fifth, full inclusivity and engaging all stakeholders:
"The UAE's significant role in efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change aims to provide driving force to the international community to implement commitments and obligations related to climate change solutions and energy security," the Ambassador stated. (WHY)
