At UNGA, Indonesia Supports Sea-Based Climate

New, York MINA – The Indonesian government fully supports a sea-based climate action initiative launched on Monday, September 23 at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with them “Climate Action Summit or UN Climate Action Summit” in New York, United States.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla who is present at the agenda said that it was an important initiative in emphasizing the relevance of sea and climate.

He explained the Government of Indonesia continued to maintain a balance between the need for economic growth and efforts to protect the sea and its resources.

“These are two sides of a currency that cannot be separated,” Jusuf Kalla said in his speech at the 2nd Meeting of the High Level Panel for the Sustainable Ocean Economy at Conference Room 7 of UN Headquarters, in a press release on Monday.

Furthermore, Jusuf Kalla stressed Indonesia is proud to be among the vanguard of the country in effort to protect sea. “For Indonesia, the sea is our future,” he said.

Vice President also explained three priorities in the event, the first, Indonesia encouraged global action in overcoming marine plastic waste. In this case, he explained Indonesia had reached the 20 percent target by 2019 (from 75 percent by 2025).

Second, Indonesia guarantees sustainable fisheries management. The commitment to combat IUU fishing and organized crime related to fisheries must be strengthened.

For this reason, he emphasized that collaboration between ASEAN and the Pacific region in this case is vital.

The Third is to prioritize sea issues in climate change negotiations, including the UNFC by emphasizing the importance of sustainable management of mangrove forests and peatlands.

“I hope that this coalition can continue to do concrete things to mainstream marine issues at the global level,” he said.

Vice President is in New York to represent President Joko Widodo in leading Indonesian Delegation at the 74th UN General Assembly.

In the midst of a series of UN 74th General Assembly activities, the Vice President is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with a number of heads of state, as well as attend a gala dinner invitation with US President Donald Trump at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.

The 74th UN General Assembly this time will be attended by 100 heads of state, three deputy heads of state, 47 prime ministers, three ministers, two heads of delegations and 193 delegates of UN member states. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)