Indonesia: ASEAN Reinforces Commitment for a Better Nature

The Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK), Siti Nurbaya Bakar said the 34th ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) meeting was a momentum to strengthen commitment to a better planet. The Antara site reported, the Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry at the opening of ASOEN-34 in Bogor, West Java, Tuesday said, "The 34th ASOEN meeting and related meetings are an important agenda to strengthen our commitment to a better planet," Minister Siti invited ASEAN member countries to reaffirm its determination to do its best to tackle climate change with strong and effective actions, reflecting the equality of national circumstances.He encouraged all ASEAN members to further enhance the nationally determined contribution document (NDC) and mobilize financing, from all sources in a predictable, adequate, and timely way to deal with climate change.

"Including significantly increasing support for developing countries," she said. Minister Siti revealed that Indonesia views good management of water resources as very important to achieve its development agenda in Indonesia.In this context, he said, Indonesia continues to accelerate the reduction of water pollution, good management of watersheds (DAS). According to him, good watershed management is an integral part of integrated water resources management, including programs to provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all. "Through this opportunity, I invite all countries in this forum to attend and actively participate in the 10th World Water Forum, which will be held in Bali, from 18 to 24 May 2024," he said. Furthermore, Minister Siti said the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific is also one of the priorities of the ASEAN Indonesia chairmanship in 2023.

Therefore, she continued, Indonesia is pushing for broader Indo-Pacific cooperation by involving the Pacific region. According to him, ASOEN is also expected to be able to take steps including strengthening coordination for the promotion and implementation of relevant principles and priority areas of the ASEAN Outlook and developing cross-pillar and cross-sectoral synergies in ASEAN. "We bear a huge responsibility to develop guidelines to ensure that ASEAN's actions will continue in a sustainable manner," she said. Minister Siti also invited all ASEAN members to continue working, hand in hand in creating a clean and green environment for the ASEAN people and the world. (PH)