Figure 1. Participants of Interactive Roundtable Discussion by M2020 and GGGI Indonesia
On 18 February 2019, The Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center (PYC) attended the Roundtable Discussion Mission 2020 – Fast Tracking Indonesia’s Transition to Sustainable Energy and A Climate-Resilient Future. The interactive roundtable discussion was hosted by Mission 2020 and The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Indonesia in GGGI Indonesia Country Office. The participants discussed how to encourage and accelerate international support and investment for the future of Indonesia’s energy.
The roundtable discussion was attended by leaders of institution and organizations engaged in renewable energy and climate change mitigation and was led by Christina Figueres, as initiator of Mission 2020. Mission 2020 is a global initiative seeking urgent action to limit the effects of climate change, particularly for vulnerable people and countries, by reaching a turning point on greenhouse gas emission by 2020. The event was also attended by Josaphat Rizal Primana (Director of Energy, Mineral and Mining Resources, Ministry of National Development Planning / National Development Planning Agency / Bappenas), Arief Anshory Yusuf (Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics, Padjajaran University, Indonesia) and Verania Andria (Senior Advisor for Sustainable Energy Strategic Program and Policies of UNDP) as speakers.
The discussion was opened by a presentation from Arief Anshory Yusuf as the first speaker who highlighted the opportunities and obstacles faced by the low-carbon transition. According to him, in order to achieve low carbon transition, it is necessary to strengthen several aspects:
- Promoting low-carbon investment by private sectors with complementary public capital expenditure, including:
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- Intervention/regulation with clear objectives and important, measurable impact;
- Minimizing the risk of the industry’s competitiveness;
- Consistency over time.
- Continuing energy pricing reforms;
- Motivating behavioral changes of economics agents;
- Strengthen inter-governmental fiscal relations
The second speaker, Josaphat Rizal Primana, revealed 3 strategies to overcome obstacles in optimizing renewable energy; such as solid planning, channeling loan / grant and empowering regional administration. Finally, Vania Andria, presented different kinds of approach to encourage and accelerate innovation in the energy sector in Indonesia with the goal of attracting investment and funding sources.
Mission 2020 introduced the word “Gragent” in this discussion forum. The meaning of “Gragent” itself is that energy transition and transformation needs to be GRAdual and also urGENT at the same time. As a closing statement, Figueres showed appreciation for the plans that has been put in motion by the government of Indonesia. “Yes, transformation needs to be gradual, but also urgent. All of these issues, as well as investments in the next 5-10 years, are truly going to determine Indonesia’s future,” she added.
