In 2023, the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) is responsible for a global temperature increase of 1.1°C. The report also projects that in the coming decades, the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather, heat waves, heavy rainfall, drought, tropical cyclones, melting glaciers, and sea level rise, will increase significantly, both in terms of intensity and frequency. As stated in Article 2.1(b) of the Paris Agreement, one of the Paris Agreement objectives is to increase the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low GHG emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production. This paragraph entails that climate actions are not merely about keeping the temperature increase below 1,5oC, but also to cope with the impacts of climate change by increasing climate resilience.
Indonesia Research Institute for Decarbonization (IRID) views the importance of adaptation measures, to have equal footing as mitigation measures, including in Indonesia. A discussion was then held on 29 May 2024 on “Aligning Indonesia’s Adaptation Measures with the Paris Agreement”.
Several key issues emerged from the discussion are as follow:
Challenges
• There were needs regarding to data and information, related to risk, vulnerability, and loss and damage due to climate change. These types of data and information are crucial in defining the baseline and to set adaptation target. Currently, Indonesia has a system called SIDIK (Vulnerability Index Data Information System), which shows the vulnerability levels by district. However, not all relevant data exist are properly available. Therefore, it is important to have a comprehensive and integrated database to improve adaptation planning and action.
• There were also needs to formulate indicators on adaptation, vulnerability, and risks that are more applicable to be included in the adaptation strategy (documents). The adaptation strategy should also include the priority sector. For instance, in the food sector (as priority sector), the use of indicators which represent the daily calorie intake in other carbohydrate sources aside from rice and according to local food potential, such as corn, sorghum, and others, is more applicable. Further indicators to implement adaptation that are related to targeted communities by including vulnerable groups (children, elderly, people with disabilities, etc.) and affected groups based on livelihoods (farmers, fishermen, etc.), are also required.
The current practice of using sector-based approach that is determined at the national level for adaptation plans, are difficult to apply at the sub-national level. This is due to the fact that each region has different capabilities to adapt due to various levels of vulnerability and risks. The sub-national level requires spatial approach to properly formulate its adaptation plans and actions. Hence, further study on spatial-based approach is required to determine appropriate adaptation actions in accordance with each region’s conditions.
• Another challenge that must be addressed is the policy governance issue, regarding to the linkage between national and the sub-national level. In the case of Greater Pekalongan (Central Java province), there are several issues related to policy governance in addressing permanent coastal inundation events, which are:
• The dualism of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies intersect with each other, and the implementation has not yet been consistent at the national level
• Separate governance and authority between CCA and DRR, both at the national and at the sub-national
• Permanent coastal inundation event is still not categorized as ‘disaster’ in the Indonesian Law of Disaster Management; as well as
• The structural approach is still the focus, which causes a lack of attention to the derivative impacts and the root of the problem.
• The mechanism for reporting adaptation actions to the Government of Indonesia (GoI), especially those conducted by non-governmental organizations, is still poorly integrated. Indonesia does not yet have a strong verification institution for reporting adaptation actions. Most organizations at the regional level do not yet know how to properly report their actions to be considered as contributions to Indonesia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), particularly those under the adaptation section.
Way Forward
• There is a need to collect data on loss and damage due to climate change in Indonesia. It is important to determine the baseline and targets for adaptation actions. This data needs to be collected from the provincial to district/city level and updated annually. Currently, the Government of Indonesia (GoI) has a National Registry System (SRN) for managing and providing data and information related to climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. However, further verification is needed to ensure that the activities undertaken are considered as climate action, not as business as usual.
• The adaptation indicators can be determined by stitching them into existing studies, such as the Village Development Indicator and the Indonesian Disaster Risk Index (IRBI). Furthermore, these indicators need to be integrated with existing instruments, such as Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL).
• The preparation of national adaptation plans by the GoI should be more participatory by involving the most affected communities and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The Ministerial Regulation of Environment and Forestry No. 7 of 2018 has stated the need for a participatory approach for the measurement of the climate change impacts based on sector and region. However, in the decision-making process regarding to adaptation regulations, a top-down approach still applies. Therefore, the involvement of community, particularly at the grassroots level, is still lack.
• The local governments play an important role in all processes related to adaptation, from planning to action. However, improvements are required in coordinating vulnerability and risk data availability with the GoI to ensure that the adaptation budget allocation can be distributed to the regions. Moreover, it is necessary to increase the capacity of local governments and the GoI regarding synergies in using data and utilizing existing funding instruments to avoid overlapping authority.
• Ensuring the implementation of just transition aspects in the adaptation measures is important to secure the livelihoods of the people most vulnerable and affected by climate change. For instance, the up-skilling and re-skilling programs for affected workers to ensure they can access a new job. Just transition in the adaptation sector also means prioritizing community involvement at all stage, which is also important to ensure the recovery from losses due to the negative impact of climate change is properly addressed.
