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From forests to carbon emissions: How did Indonesia become a major contributor to global greenhouse gases?
Indonesia is one of the countries with the most geographical diversity and natural environment in the world, making it one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. According to reports, Jakarta has been listed as the most vulnerable city in the world facing the challenges of climate change. This is reflected not only in frequent extreme weather events, but also in Indonesia’s status as one of the leading countries with extensive deforestation and coal-fired power generation, making it a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. These issues impose a significant responsibility on Indonesia in addressing the climate challenge and prompt authorities to adopt policies to reduce carbon emissions.
With more than 17,000 islands and approximately 54,716 kilometers of coastline, Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme climate events.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Indonesia is one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, largely due to its high rates of deforestation and forest degradation. Since 2010, Indonesia has actively participated in REDD+, a project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation and degradation in developing countries. This plan will not only reduce Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions, but also protect biodiversity and benefit local communities.
Indonesia’s REDD+ plan faces many challenges, including poor governance and institutional capacity, insufficient funding, and land tenure issues.
In addition to REDD+, Indonesia has the potential to leverage other forest-based climate change mitigation measures, such as sustainable forest management and agroforestry, to balance economic, social and environmental objectives. Despite a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29% by 2030, progress has been minimal due to a lack of financial support, the spread of coal-fired power and continued deforestation.
Impact on the natural environment
Temperature and climate change predictions
Indonesia's climate is predominantly tropical, with humidity reaching 90% and average temperatures of 28°C in hotter areas. According to climate projections, average temperatures will rise by 1.6°C by 2050 and by 3.9°C by 2100 under the high emissions scenario.
It is expected that under the high-emissions scenario before 2050, approximately 8% of heat waves will be prolonged in duration, heat wave frequency will increase by 98%, and extreme weather events will continue to rise.
Marine ecosystem
As the world's largest archipelago, Indonesia's marine environment is critical to the livelihoods and food security of millions of people. Rising ocean temperatures and increased CO2 concentrations caused by climate change will have a serious impact on the health of coral reefs and may lead to coral bleaching and the death of ecosystems.
Ocean acidification is not only causing trouble for coral reefs, it is also causing a decline in the abundance of plankton, thus changing the balance of the entire food web.
Terrestrial environment
Indonesia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, driven primarily by agriculture and the logging industry. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, especially forest fires in Indonesia, making greenhouse gas emissions more serious.
Impact on people
Agriculture
The agricultural sector is a source of income for millions of Indonesian people, and the impact of climate change will directly affect agricultural productivity and local food security. According to climate projections, temperatures will rise by 1.5°C by 2050, negatively affecting agricultural production.
Fisheries
Indonesia’s fisheries sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP cannot be underestimated, however, catch potential is expected to decrease by 20.3% by 2050 due to climate change. This has a significant impact on both the local economy and culture.
Infrastructure
Rising sea levels, flooding and extreme storm events pose serious threats to Indonesia's infrastructure. Experts predict that by 2050, thousands of coastal cities will be at risk of disappearing. This will require significant investment in flood protection and building reconstruction.
Forest and Mining
Indonesia is rich in natural resources, especially forest and mining-related industries. However, these industries are affected by climate change, such as rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, which contribute to forest degradation and habitat loss.
For Indonesia, the future challenge is not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also how to effectively respond to changes in the natural environment and maintain sustainable development of society. Now, how will all this affect global climate action and various countries’ ecological policies?
