North Sumatra commits to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions

MEDAN, Indonesia — The North Sumatra administration has expressed its commitment to continuing efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions as it prepares to attend the Conference of Parties (COP) 25 in Chile on Dec. 2-8.

The North Sumatra administration has expressed its commitment to continuing efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions as it prepares to attend the Conference of Parties (COP) 25 in Chile on Dec. 2-8.

Registered as an observer at the climate change conference, the administration has also expressed its commitment to improve its environment quality index.

The provincial environment agency head, Binsar Situmorang, said his side was continuing efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the sectors of energy, agriculture, forestry and waste ahead of the conference.

Together with regency/city administrations, Binsar said, the agency had conducted climate change mitigation and adaptation acts through the climate village program (Proklim) on the national registry system.

“North Sumatra is serious about Proklim,” he said recently, adding that five out of the 27 villages in the regencies/cities in the province were ready to realize the Proklim.

Providing an example, he discussed tree planting in Lubuk Kertang village, Langkat regency, on Friday.

The move was lauded by the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s Research, Development and Innovation Agency head, Agus Justianto.

He said the move was in line with the government’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29 percent, in which 17 percent came from the forestry sector, 11 percent from the energy sector and the remaining 1 percent from waste.

“Coordination and active participation between regional administrations and the central government is important in this effort,” said Agus, expressing hope for the success of Indonesia in its fight against climate change.

Head of the expert team of the presidential working unit on climate change control (UKP-PPI), Amanda Kaliti, said people had to respond to the efforts of climate change control.

Amid global warming, which had been going on for a decade, saving energy and planting trees was necessary. She said it was time for everyone to become aware of the importance of saving energy.

She also encouraged people to plant trees and reduce the use of plastic bottles and paper.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to reduce global warming and climate change,” Amanda said.