The recent heatwave in Southeast Asia has captured the world’s attention. Millions of individuals have been affected by the intense heat, including within the Philippines, Thailand, and Bangkok.
However, despite rising temperatures in Indonesia, the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said Indonesia just isn’t fighting a heatwave like other countries.
Many countries, including Indonesia, are feeling the consequences of climate change. In addition to heatwaves, other examples of those effects include worsening air pollution and increased flooding.
Jakarta, Indonesia is usually considered some of the polluted cities on the planet. In 2017, data from the U.S. Embassy’s air monitoring station showed that Jakarta’s air quality was considered “good” only 26 days out of the 12 months. Due to this severe air pollution, the common life expectancy of Jakartans has decreased by 2.3 years in recent times.
Floods in Jakarta are also getting worse attributable to climate change, with water levels rising 12 months by 12 months. Climate change is increasing extreme rainfall, which ends up in more intense flooding.
These are only a couple of of the various threats climate change poses to Indonesia. The situation is made worse by an absence of education and awareness of the seriousness of the issue.
The YouGov-Cambridge Globalism report found that 18% of Indonesians surveyed don’t consider that climate change is attributable to human activity. This could also be because Indonesian media focuses more on religious and political issues than on climate issues. The lack of in-depth climate education within the education system and misinformation also contribute to this misunderstanding.
However, the rise within the variety of natural disasters and air pollution should prompt a discussion on higher solutions to this problem.
Indonesia must subsequently ensure a greater understanding of the climate crisis amongst its residents. This requires support from the federal government, educational institutions and media which have the resources to offer accurate information on climate change.
In addition, Indonesia’s environmental policies ought to be consistent with positive climate change mitigation rhetoric. Indonesia may learn from neighboring countries corresponding to Australia in regards to the negative effects of poor climate policies.
Despite being a developed country that relies heavily on minerals and natural resources for its GDP, Australia has not invested enough in sustainable fuel sources or industries, despite evidence that poor climate policy can harm the economy. This highlights that a commitment to good climate policy doesn’t impede economic growth.
The challenge of climate change could turn out to be more serious without significant change. That’s why it’s crucial for Indonesia and other countries to boost public understanding of the climate crisis and construct support from diverse stakeholders.
Everyone can contribute to a more sustainable Earth. One way is to save lots of energy. By reducing our energy consumption, whether it’s electricity or fuel, we can assist reduce greenhouse gas emissions that speed up global warming. Let’s join forces and be a part of the answer for a more sustainable and healthy future for our planet!
Source: https://habibiecenter.or.id/
