On 18 July 2025, policymakers, climate experts, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, and development partners gathered in Jakarta for a pivotal high-level meeting of the Friends of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Convened under the leadership of Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment, the meeting marked a significant milestone in the country’s climate policy landscape: the finalization of Indonesia’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC).

The SNDC, a core component of Indonesia’s commitment under the Paris Agreement, is more than a formal submission to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is a strategic document that reflects national development priorities, integrates long-term climate ambitions, and reinforces Indonesia’s growing leadership in global climate governance.

A Broader Commitment

Through the Climate Promise initiative, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stood as a steadfast partner to the Government of Indonesia, offering comprehensive support, from inclusive public consultations for policy development to data monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), capacity building, and promote social mobilization for climate action.

UNDP’s collaboration has involved key ministries including the Ministry of Environment (MoE), the Ministry of Forestry (MoFor), and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), alongside a wide array of national stakeholders. Together, they ensure that the SNDC is not only technically sound but also inclusive, participatory and aligned with Indonesia’s Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience (LTS-LCCR) 2050. This alignment guarantees that climate actions under these strategies are socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and consistent with national priorities and international standards.

In his opening address, Minister of Environment Dr. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq underscored that the SNDC must be understood as both a political and developmental commitment rooted in Indonesia’s national vision.

“The NDC represents Indonesia’s commitment. The second NDC is based on policies set by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, particularly aligned with the Asta Cita vision, which includes the target of achieving 8% economic growth during the 2028–2029 period, as outlined in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN),” he said. 

He further called for unified action among sectoral stakeholders, highlighting that effective climate policy demands institutional integrity and inter-sectoral coordination.

Advancing the Blue Carbon Agenda

Among the key issues discussed at the Friends of NDC meeting was the advancement of Indonesia’s blue carbon policy. Dr. Miftahul Huda, Secretary of the Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management at the MMAF, shared ongoing efforts to finalize a national seagrass ecosystem map, a critical baseline for calculating greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration potential from marine habitats with completion targeted by the end of July 2025. Concurrently, MMAF is also preparing a roadmap for climate change mitigation in the marine sector, including mechanisms for implementing carbon pricing. 

These national efforts are complemented by community-based initiatives such as the seaBLUE project, funded by Japan Supplementary Budget and implemented by UNDP in partnership with MMAF. The project empowers small-scale fishers, a group often marginalized in climate planning despite their intimate relationship with the ocean. By retrofitting traditional fishing boats with solar-powered or hybrid engines, seaBLUE reduces diesel dependency, cuts emissions, and lowers operational costs.

Importantly, seaBLUE also offers technical training and certification to both fishers and local officials in Morotai (North Maluku) and Tanimbar (Maluku), ensuring long-term sustainability and reinforcing community ownership. The project is not merely a pilot but a scalable model, proof that policy frameworks can translate into measurable grassroots action.

From Technical Document to Collective Blueprint 

The Friends of NDC meeting reaffirmed a critical truth: climate action cannot succeed in silos. Forest conservation, renewable energy, coastal protection, sustainable agriculture, and social inclusion are all connected and must move forward together. The SNDC, therefore, becomes a living document, an embodiment of real cooperation and shared ownership across ministries, institutions, and communities.

As Indonesia stands at a defining juncture in its climate journey, the SNDC offers a powerful platform to integrate bold ambition with local wisdom, economic strategy with environmental stewardship. UNDP remains committed to supporting the government and its partners in transforming this ambition into action. In the of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Albert Schweitzer, whose philosophy of “Reverence for Life” continues to inspire: “Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying the earth.” 

These words serve as both a warning and a call to action. We still have time to choose the path that values interconnection, protects the vulnerable, and empowers all sectors of society to take part in shaping a resilient and sustainable future.

UNDP reaffirms its commitment to supporting Indonesia in this journey. As emphasized by Raden Erwin Soeprastowo, Senior Advisor for Natural Resources, “UNDP remains committed to supporting Indonesia in turning climate ambition into real action, empowering people, restoring ecosystems, and building resilient communities, from the mountains to the coastlines, and from government halls to remote villages.”

Author:
Fariz P. Mursyid
Nathazha B.E. Sipalsuta