Danang Triatmojo, Jakarta – Environmental activists from the Alliance Against Climate Change (APPI) held a counter conference at the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta on Friday November 5 in the form of a theatrical action to protest President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's speech at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
According to Tribune's observations at the location, a table and chairs were arranged in the form of a U which was surrounded by demonstrators holding posters with protest messages.
"Today we are holding a counter conference to the COP26 conference in Glasgow", said one of the speakers at the location.
During the theatrical forum they called for climate justice for all. Through posters they also said that the climate, especially in Indonesia, is already in crisis.
The counter forum was aimed at declaring that the speech given by President Widodo at the COP26 was full of one-sided claims.
Respite for Climate member Novita Indri said that Widodo's speech at the COP26 forum was just empty talk and not in accordance with the facts on the ground.
The contents of this speech are seen as one-sided claims, not to mention the claim that deforestation or forest fires have declined by 82 percent.
"The one-sided claim on the decline in deforestation or forest fires of 82 percent shows that the state is closing its eyes and heart [to the problem]", said Indri.
Indri said that last year there were thousands of flood disaster victims in Kalimantan, one of the causes of which was the loss of forests catchment areas and the high rate of forest fires.
According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) there were 1,969 natural disasters between January and September 2021. The majority of these were hydrometeorology disasters in the form of floods, landslides and tornadoes.
The groups said that current government is instead prioritising how to exploit natural resources, yet it is the use of fossil fuels and the massive forest and land damage which is the main cause of global warming.
"These are the facts taking place on the ground", she said.
Based on this, the APPI is demanding that the government under the leadership of President Widodo:
1. Stop issuing new permits for coal fired power plants (PLTU), including PLTU co-firing and PLTUs using CSS technology, retire existing PLTUs and immediately shift to renewable energy.
2. Prioritise zero deforestation without equivocating about development and economic growth.
3. Immediately ratify the National Gender Action Plan to ensure access, control, participation and benefits for women in all climate policies and projects that are carried out, including ensuring that these policies and projects pose no danger or harm to women.
4. Increasing the target for emission reductions in nationally determined contributions (NDC) and ensure there is an ambitious plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
5. Stop issuing concessions on small islands and coastal areas.
6. Increase protection, involvement and participation of those on the front line such as traditional communities, farmers, coastal communities and other local communities for the protection of the environment.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aktivis Gelar Sidang Tandingan Forum COP26 di Patung Kuda, Protes Penanganan Iklim ke President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo".]
