Indonesia Promotes Acceleration of Decarbonization in its G20 Presidency

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Oleh Sugiarti, Senin, 18 April 2022 | 11:32 WIB - Redaktur: Sugiarti - 696


Jakarta, InfoPublik - Chairman of the Indonesian Solar Energy Association (AESI), Fabby Tumiwa, said that the government's effort to transmit energy toward decarbonization is the right step. In fact, this effort has become one of the priority issues in the discussion at Indonesia’s G20 Presidency.

Decarbonization is carried out to prevent climate crisis caused by increasing global temperatures, one of which is the burning of fossil energy. “Therefore, to be able to make an energy transition, the fossil energy must be reduced as quickly as possible. If fossil energy is reduced, then it must be replaced with clean energy," he said, when contacted on Friday night, April 15, 2022.

Clean energy is categorized into renewable energy and energy efficiency. These two goals must be carried out together by all countries in the world, especially G20 countries.

"So, the challenge for the G20 countries is how to transform the system from what was previously based on dirty energy to clean energy that focuses on energy efficiency and renewable energy," he said.

In energy development, Febby admitted that there are still many countries that only focus on fossils. This is due to the high demand in the market which can have an impact on tightening the supply of fossil energy.

"In the current era of energy transition, investment in fossil energy will definitely decrease. In addition, producers are also reducing investment due to concerns that their assets will become stranded assets and financing for fossil energy projects will also be increasingly limited. So, in the future we have to anticipate how fossil energy production will decrease while demand has not drastically reduced because the whole world is still growing economically and there are still many countries other than the G20 that still need fossil energy," he said.

Through the G20 Presidency in 2022, said Fabby, Indonesia can encourage G20 countries to make energy transitions more quickly and measurably. He also hopes that Indonesia can invite each country to have a renewable energy target.

"So maybe what can be issued as one of the outcomes at the G20 is that the G20 countries can issue a decision on renewable energy targets in 2030 that reflects the global energy transition," he said.

For example, Indonesia has a renewable energy mix target of 45 percent of the electricity sector in 2030. This can also be applied in other G20 countries. Fabby believes that through the G20 Presidency, Indonesia can encourage this.

"Other G20 countries should also have targets that reflect the acceleration of the global energy transition. Because the global energy transition means reducing fossil energy,” he said.

Based on the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) formed by the United Nations (UN), the increase in global temperature can be prevented between 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. The condition is that there must be a 70 percent reduction in steam power plants (PLTU) for emission reductions because they are considered polluting. According to him, there must be a global collective agreement to reduce the use of PLTU in 2030.

“The IPCC recommendation is 70 percent. In my opinion, there should be a collective agreement to reduce PLTU by 2030 in all G20 countries, except Saudi Arabia because they don't have one," he concluded.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry focuses on the issue of energy transition from energy security to technology in the discussion and cooperation forum at G20 Summit, which will be held in Bali from October to November 2022.

The Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) focuses on energy security, energy access and efficiency, as well as the energy transition to a low-carbon energy system, including investment and innovation in cleaner and more efficient technologies.

Through G20 forum, Indonesia has the opportunity to encourage the world's collective efforts in realizing policies to accelerate global economic recovery in an inclusive manner. Indonesia also has the opportunity to show the world its full support for the global energy transition.

This is because G20 member countries account for about 75% of global energy demand. Therefore, the G20 countries have a big responsibility and strategic role in encouraging the use of clean energy. The ETWG focuses on energy security, access and efficiency, and the transition to low-carbon energy system, as well as investment and innovation in cleaner and more efficient technologies.

 

Image: Antara