Professor of Environmental Science UNDIP: The Stimulus Does Not Support Sustainable Economy

Professor of Environmental Sciences at Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Prof. Sudharto Prawata Hadi MES Ph.D., assessed that the fiscal stimulus provided by the government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic is still intended for sectors that contribute to greenhouse emissions. Fiscal stimulus has not supported a sustainable economic sector.

In an international webinar initiated by the Postgraduate School Environmental Science Doctoral Program (DIL) Undip by raising “Climate Change in the midst of Covid-19 and Job Creation Law”, Prof. Sudharto assessed that incentives are still allocated to sectors that have the potential to contribute to the production of house emissions. The glass will affect Indonesia’s commitment to achievement in climate change adaptation. “Simplifying the granting of permits will stimulate the degradation of the environment and natural resources,” said Sudharto P Hadi.

He stated that the presence of Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation was also considered to be threatening the achievement of Indonesia’s commitment to climate change adaptation. The world is currently facing a global warming phenomenon that results in climate change because the earth’s atmosphere is filled with greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide and methane, which are produced by humans.

Citing flood management in Semarang as an example of a case, Sudharto said that Semarang, which is located on the coast, is already good at dealing with floods and increasing inundation as one of the risks of climate change. However, it has not yet targeted the causes of flooding, namely land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater extraction and building loads.

As long as the groundwater extraction has not been properly managed and development is carried out in areas that are prone to subsidence, this has not actually led to a sustainable solution. The use of polders and pumps will only reduce the threat of temporary flooding. That’s why he suggested better water management in Semarang.

Apart from Prof. Sudharto, the International webinar which was held on Tuesday, December 1st, also presented Irina Safitri Zen, Associate Professor from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM); and Director of Climate Change Adaptation, Directorate General of Climate Change Control, Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), Dra Sri Tantri Arundhati MSc. The webinar was moderated by the Head of the Undip Postgraduate School DIL Study Program, Dr. Hartuti Purnaweni, MPA.

Meanwhile, an environmental expert from IIUM, Irina Safitri, opened her presentation by distributing a short film reminding the danger of climate change in the form of rising sea levels. The message to be conveyed, many places in Southeast Asia will be lost. He gave an example that the airport in the capital city of Malaysia, KLIA, will be near the sea because many lands are lower than sea level.

Meanwhile, Director of Climate Change Adaptation at the Directorate General of Climate Change Control, KLHK, Tantri Arundhati, emphasized that the Indonesian government commits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 29% with its own strength, or 41% if with the support of strategic partners. Tantri ensures that Indonesia can make a major contribution to climate change.

This can be done because Indonesia has very rich biodiversity and large carbon stock. He also reminded that Indonesia itself is also vulnerable to climate change, especially the increase in sea level, given the large number of areas located along the coast.

The government, he said, has included the problem of climate change as target number 6 in the RPJMN (National Medium Term Development Plan) 2020–2024. The commitment is in the part of environmental development, climate resilience, environmental risk reduction, and climate change.

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