The Importance of Carbon in Agriculture and Forestry

Grow Asia, 16 June 2022, by Jacelyn Tan (South Pole) and Chrissa Borja (Grow Asia), Singapore,

Grow Asia organized a learning session for its RAI Community of Practice (CoP) on ‘Carbon in Agriculture and Forestry’ on 17 March 2022. Grow Asia curated a panel of experts Jacelyn Tan from South Pole, Nanda Noor from Science Based Target Initiatives, Yvonne Zhang from Deloitte, and Fitrian Ardiansyah from IDH, the sustainable trade initiative. The panelists provided definitions, overviews, and insights on understanding carbon footprint, setting reduction targets, offsetting emissions with high-quality carbon credits, and collective action among supply chain actors. The discussion was followed by a lively Q&A.

As a follow-up to this event, Grow Asia invited Jacelyn Tan, Managing Consultant at South Pole, to author a blog piece to further de-mystify carbon in agricultural value chains for the community partners.

Read on for details on why understanding carbon emissions are essential for the agriculture and forestry sectors right now – and how to take the next step in your sustainability journey with one of our expert panelists.

Food, Agriculture, and Forestry Contribution Climate Change – What does it mean for Southeast Asia?

Globally, the impact of agriculture on the planet’s resources is significant – agriculture accounts for 50% of habitable land use and 70% of global freshwater use. Food production and its related processes alone account for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As the ASEAN population increases from 690 million at present to 770 million by 2040, there will be greater pressure on the food system to feed a larger population and therefore an increase in carbon emissions – unless the region implements significant mitigation efforts. The ASEAN State of Climate Change 2021 report lists climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions such as agroforestry as key strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change in these sectors.

What is the role of private investments in ASEAN?

By 2030, ASEAN will be the fourth-largest economy in the world. Private sector engagement therefore will be critical in climate action. A recent report published by South Pole and Carbon Disclosure Project found that only 8% of companies in the Asia Pacific had set science-based targets (SBT). This shows that there are plenty of opportunities and work to be done with the private sector to accelerate climate action for the region.

How can companies get started on their climate journey?

Companies typically embark on a climate action journey (Figure 1), which begins with having an accurate understanding of their climate footprint based on international best practice guidelines such as those stipulated by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

This journey entails measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from both their direct (Scope 1 and 2) and indirect supply chain emissions (Scope 3). Direct emissions are those associated with their operational footprints such as company vehicles, energy, and heat generation, purchased electricity, steam, and heating and cooling that are used at a company’s facilities. Typically, Scope 1 and 2 data can be obtained by setting up a structured data collection process and providing capacity training for factory staff to monitor and collect relevant data points such as energy and fuel consumption at their operations.

What are the challenges with accounting for indirect supply chain emissions (Scope 3)?

Accounting and reporting standards for corporate value chains (agricultural and food companies) need to align with 15 categories for Scope 3 which requires companies’ external support to comply with the sampling, processing, and understanding data of its operations. The main challenge in accounting for supply chain emissions is the limitations of traceability for purchased goods and services mainly from the sourcing of raw materials.

For fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies who rely on intermediary suppliers, emissions from the first category of Scope 3, Purchased Goods and Services (PG&S), are significant and typically account for more than 50% of the company’s total GHG footprint. As agriculture supply chains are complex and commodities usually pass through different stages from farmers, traders, and processors, it is difficult to accurately assess activities at the farm level.

In the short term, companies can use recognized global datasets such as World Food Lifecycle Database (WFLDB) to obtain an estimate of their environmental footprint impact through proxy emission factors that show country-level emission for a particular crop, which may often not reflect more granular local sourcing situation.

In the long term, companies should work with suppliers to establish traceability programs for their top sourcing ingredients. Such traceability programs would:

Once companies have accurately established their carbon footprint at the baseline year, the next step in the climate journey is to develop a climate ambition in line with Science-Based Targets (SBTs).

How can companies align their climate action and commitments with science-based targets (SBTs)?

Science-based targets are used for companies to align their climate action commitments to reduction pathways that lead to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the latest climate science. The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) leads the work in crafting sector-specific methodologies to help companies in setting realistic targets and achieving their commitments.

Selecting an appropriate methodology is a critical step in realizing these commitments. A common way of measuring emissions, called the absolute emissions contraction method, applies to most sectors including agriculture. The output is an overall GHG emission reduction to the atmosphere by the target year, relative to the base year (e.g. reduce annual CO2e emissions by 35% by 2025, from 2018 levels). This method also includes setting up a carbon budget, emissions scenario, and allocation approach.

Although companies may use this method to start measuring their progress toward climate commitments, the SBT does not yet have specific guidance for the agriculture and forestry sectors. SBTI has released a draft set of guidelines for the Forest, Land, and Agriculture Sector (FLAG) sector, which is under consultation as of June 2022.

How can companies learn more and get involved?

Grow Asia recognizes that businesses in agriculture, food, and forestry operate differently and are at various stages of reaching commitments to GHG reduction targets. Companies at any stage need to understand how to create, execute and measure corporate targets and practices. This is why Grow Asia creates pre-competitive venues, like our Responsible Agriculture Investing (RAI) Community of Practice, for companies to share experiences, resources, and insights on relevant topics such as carbon.

The RAI Community of Practice is composed of financial investors, agribusinesses, food companies, and other private sector partners with a common interest in broadening knowledge and network and sharing best practices for promoting responsible investments in the region.

Interested to join the Community? Contact Borj chrissa@growasia.org for more information.

Original link: https://www.growasia.org/post/the-importance-of-carbon-in-agriculture-and-forestry

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Kerja Sama Masyarakat Buat Kelola Gambut Lebih Baik

Korda News, 10 Mei 2017, by Admin, Jakarta,

Komitmen Pemerintah Republik Indonesia untuk merestorasi Hutan dan Gambut yang dipimpin oleh Kementrian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan beserta Badan Restorasi Gambut, sangat diapresiasi oleh Lembaga peduli Lingkungan yaitu Inisiatif Dagang Hijau (IDH).

Hal tersebut disampaikan langsung oleh Country Director IDH-Sustainable Trade Initiative Indonesia Fitrian Ardiansyah saat ditemui dalam rangkaian Bonn Challenge, di Griya Agung Palembang (10/5).

Fitrian mengungkapkan, hal tersebut harus didukung dengan implementasi di lapangan terutama lewat komitmen dari pihak Gubernur dan juga mitra yang lainnya untuk restorasi lahan Gambut.

“Kita telah bekerja sama dengan Pemerintah Provinsi dan Pemerintah Pusat juga pihak swasta untuk membuat metode-metode restorasi lahan gambut dan kehutanan yang bekerja sama dengan masyarakat jadi apakah itu telah berhasil itulah peran kita untuk membuktikan restorasi dapat dilakukan, “ungkapnya

Untuk metodenya dijelaskan Fitrian seperti bekerja sama dengan masyarakat untuk membuat pertanian lebih baik sehingga produktifitas yang ada menjadi lebih baik dan, kemudian ekosistem hutan gambut yang masih ada di lindungi dan direstorasi.

“Buat kami seperti di Provinsi Sumsel dan di berbagai wilayah yang lainnya ada beberapa kabupaten yang difokuskan seperti di Banyuasin kita ingin petani Swadaya juga kemudian restorasi hutan gambut yabg ada sama sama dapat dibantu seperti beberapa kabupaten, “ujarnya.

Editor: Janu

Original links: http://www.kordanews.com/index.php/2017/05/10/kerja-sama-masyarakat-buat-kelola-gambut-lebih-baik/

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IDH: Ada 3 Syarat Menuju Sustainable

Perkebunan News, 20 Apr 2017, by YIN, Jakarta,

Saat ini negara luar gencar dalam menyuarakan produk-produk yang sustainable, untuk itu Indonesia selaku negara eksportir mau tidak mau harus mengikuti aturan tersebut. Adapun sustainable itu sendiri ada tiga syarat menurut IDH (the sustainable trade initiative atau inisiasi dagang hijau).

“Jadi menurut kita (IDH) ada tiga syarat untuk memenuhi kriteria dalam menuju sustainable,” kata Fitrian Ardiansyah, Direktur IDH kepada perkebunannews.com, di sela-sela peresmian kantor baru, wilayah Jakarta.

Pertama, menurut Ardiansyah produk tersebut harus berproduktivitas tinggi. Artinya dengan keterbatasan lahan yang ada saat ini maka jika ingin dikatakan sustainable harus bisa memaksimalkan lahan yang tersedia yaitu bisa menghasilkan produktivitas yang tinggi ditengah-tengah terbatasnya lahan.

Kedua, harus bisa memanfaatkan atau menjaga ekosistem yang berdampingan dengan wilayah dimana lahan budidaya tersebut dilakukan. Artinya jika lahan budidaya tersebut berdampingan atau berdekatan dengan wilayah hutan, atau aliran sungai, maka semaksimal mungkin untuk bisa menjaganya agar tidak tercemar.

“Diantaranya yaitu dengan meminimalisir atau tidak menggunakan produk-produk kimiawi yang bisa mencemari lingkungan sekitar. Dengan begitu maka alam disekitar tetap bisa terjaga,” harap Ardiansyah.

Terakhir, Ardiansyah mengatakan yaitu budidaya harus dilakukan dengan cara kemitraan, baik perusahaan dengan masyarakat sekitar atau lahan masyarakat dengan perusahaan setempat atau pabrik pengolahan dimana masyarakat bisa memasok hasil panennya. Dengan begitu maka masyarakat setempat bisa ikut merasakannya sehingga tidak ada lagi kesenjangan sosial.

“Jadi diharapkan dengan terciptanya produktivitas yang tinggi maka ikut mengangkat kesejahteraan petani dan itu yang dinamakan sustainable,” terang Ardiansyah.

Namun, Ardiansyah mengakui untuk mencapai hal tersebut tidaklah mudah. Sebab untuk mencapai hal tersebut harus ada komitmen antara perusahaan selaku pengolah hasil petani, petani atau masyarakat sekitar dan pemerintah.

Adapun untuk mencapai hal tersebut, salah satunya yaitu program kemitraan antara petani dengan perusahaan dan harus didukung oleh pemerintah baik pemerintah pusat ataupun pemerintah daerah (Pemda). Selain kemitraan, program inti plasma juga bisa dijadikan salah satu cara untuk mengangkat masyarakat sekitar.

“Sehingga dalam hal ini petani tidak akan khawatir kehilangan pasar disaat panen dengan produktivitas tinggi,” himbau Ardiansyah.

Selain kemitraan ataupun inti plasma, Ardiansyah menyarankan penguatan kelembagaan petani juga menjadi salah satu hal penting untuk menuju sustainable. Sebab dengan melakukan penguatan kelembagaan petani maka posisi tawar petani mejadi lebih besar dan petani akan mudah dalam melakukan pengajuan kredit pembiayaan, guna tercipta good agricukture practices (GAP).

“Dengan begitu maka akan tercipta perkebunan yang sustainable, baik perkebunan perusahaan ataupun perkebunan milik petani mandiri,” pungkas Ardiansyah.

Original links: http://perkebunannews.com/2017/04/20/idh-ada-3-syarat-menuju-sustainable/

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Sertifikasi Untuk Komoditas Jangan Gerus Daya Saing

Bisnis Indonesia, 27 Jan 2017, by Nurhadi Pratomo, Jakarta,

Country Director at IDH-Sustainable Trade Initiative Fitrian Ardiansyah menilai sertifikasi untuk komoditas-komoditas yang diberlakukan oleh pemerintah jangan sampai menggerus daya saing industri.

“Pemerintah juga harus memperhatikan biaya yang dikeluarkan industri. Pasalnya, menurutnya kemampuan produksi, khususnya pertanian, perkebunan, dan kehutanan dari industri kecil masih terbatas akibat terbentur biaya,” kata Fitrian, di Jakarta, Kamis (26/1).

Senada dengan Fitrian, Managing Director EcoNusantara Zulfahmi mendesak pemerintah untuk memperhatikan besaran biaya bagi industri kecil dalam hal sertifikasi produk kehutanan.

….

Original links: http://industri.bisnis.com/read/20170127/12/623260/sertifikasi-untuk-komoditas-jangan-gerus-daya-saing

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Fostering stakeholder dialogues to catalyse forest landscapes in Indonesia

IUCN, 11 Nov 2016, by IUCN, Marrakech,

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Dr. Kumar’s statement was supported by Fitrian Ardiansyah, Indonesian Country Director, IDH, who emphasised the need to move beyond dialogue by designing well-structured policies that cover issues such as land tenure so that stakeholders operate under a common umbrella. He highlighted the need to test different approaches to zero-in on the most suitable one for a landscape.

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Original links: https://www.iucn.org/news/fostering-stakeholder-dialogues-catalyse-forest-landscapes-indonesia

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Kemitraan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan untuk Kalimantan Barat

Deutsche Welle, 27 Mei 2016, by hp/ap , Jakarta,

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Direktur IDH-Sustainable Trade Initiative Fitrian Ardiansyah, salah satu pemrakarsa proyek pembangunan berkelanjutan, berharap kemitraan antara pemerintah dan swasta dan lembaga-lembaga lainnya bisa meningkatkan produktivitas.
“IDH senang untuk mendukung Gubernur Cornelis dan perusahaan seperti PT. CUS dalam menciptakan lanskap berkelanjutan di Kalimantan Barat, dan dapat membuktikan bahwa perlindungan hutan dan produksi komoditas sebenarnya dapat diseleraskan untuk kemakmuran jangka panjang,” katanya. .” Proyek-proyek IDH mendorong kerjasama antara publik dan swasta untuk produksi dan perlindungan iklim didukung oleh dunia internasional seperti Belanda dan Norwegia.

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Original links: http://www.dw.com/id/kemitraan-pembangunan-berkelanjutan-untuk-kalimantan-barat/a-19286719

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Menanti “Janji Manis” Desentralisasi Pengelolaan Hutan dan Ruang

National Geographic Indonesia, 11 Nov 2014, oleh National Geographic Indonesia, Jakarta,

Inilah tantangan desentralisasi pengelolaan hutan dan ruang bagi era pemerintahan baru.

(Foto: National Geographic Indonesia)

Pengelolaan hutan dan ruang yang baik adalah sinyal penting tentang baiknya pengelolaan sumber daya alam oleh daerah. Sejak era desentralisasi diberlakukan di Indonesia, kabupaten/kota memiliki ruang kewenangan yang lebih besar, baik secara politik dan administratif, dalam pengelolaan hutan dan ruang.

Kewenangan ini diikuti pula dengan kewenangan di bidang anggaran dari dana transfer pusat ke daerah. Kondisi ini diharapkan dapat mendorong akuntabilitas pemerintah dalam pengelolaan hutan dan ruang, sehingga menghasilkan pelayanan/pengelolaan yang lebih baik. Sayangnya satu dekade setelah desentralisasi dijalankan, janji manis desentralisasi ini belum terbukti, terlebih melihat indikasi degradasi lingkungan dan kehilangan hutan yang terus terjadi.

Permasalahan yang diungkapkan di atas merupakan salah satu fokus kajian doktoral dari Fitrian Ardiansyah (The Australian National University). Selama lebih dari 16 tahun bergelut di bidang pembangunan berkelanjutan, perubahan iklim, kehutanan dan tata ruang, energi, Fitrian Ardiansyah ialah seorang pegiat, praktisi, juga peneliti.

Saat presentasi kajiannya itu dalam lini diskusi Tebet School yang diadakan oleh LSM Article 33 Jakarta, Senin (10/11), Fitrian memaparkan beberapa temuan penting — yang mengindikasikan bahwa meningkatnya pendanaan dan besarnya anggaran di daerah tidak berbanding lurus dengan kualitas pengelolaan sumber daya alam.

Namun demikian, masih ada secercah peluang untuk mendorong desentralisasi berkontribusi ke dalam pengelolaan hutan dan ruang yang lebih baik.

Original links: http://www.mongabay.co.id/2014/11/18/potret-pengelolaan-hutan-di-era-desentralisasi/

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Potret Pengelolaan Hutan di Era Desentralisasi

Mongabay Indonesia, 18 Nov 2014, oleh Indra Nugraha, Jakarta,

Era desentralisasi akan memberikan dampak positif bagi daerah, misal, deforestasi bisa ditekan, mengelola alam dengan kearifan lokal hingga hutan dan lingkungan terjaga, kala melibatkan masyarakat adat (lokal). Sebaliknya, deforestasi tinggi kala pemerintah hanya peduli pemodal dalam mendorong apa yang disebut pembangunan daerah. Foto: Sapariah Saturi

Satu dekade lebih Indonesia menerapkan sistem desentralisasi dengan berbagai produk kebijakan daerah yang mengatur pengelolaan hutan dan lingkungan hidup. Ada yang berkontribusi baik bagi penyelamatan lingkungan tetapi banyak berdampak sebaliknya.

Fitrian Ardiansyah, kandidat doctor dari The Australian National University meneliti mengenai ini. Dia meneliti 7.000 peraturan daerah dari 1990-2009 di kabupaten/kota di luar Jawa-Bali, seperti Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi dan Papua. Perda-perda ini dibandingkan dengan laju deforestasi dan variabel lain termasuk fiskal, anggaran, ekonomi, demografi, kependudukan dan lain-lain.

Penelitian selama empat tahun dengan hasil tertuang dalam disertasi berjudul “Environmental Implications of Land-Related Policies in a Decentralised Indonesia.”

“Era desentralisasi perda keluar lima kali lipat lebih banyak dari sebelumnya. Ada korelasi signifikan antara perda berkaitan tata ruang, kehutanan dan lingkungan dalam mengurangi deforestasi. Sebaliknya, perda berkaitan perkebunan, pertambangan, energi dan infrastruktur malah memperparah deforestasi,” katanya dalam diskusi di Jakarta, Senin (10/11/14).

Fitrian mengatakan, perlu dorongan baik insentif atau bantuan kepada pemerintah daerah untuk fokus memperbaiki peraturan dalam konteks tata ruang, lingkungan dan kehutanan. Hingga berkontribusi mengurangi deforestasi.

Sebenarnya, pemerintah pusat bisa membantu pemerintah daerah lewat mekanisme fiskal, misal, memberikan target pengelolaan hutan yang baik dikaitkan dengan desentralisasi fiskal.

Mengenai desentralisasi berkontribusi terhadap deforestasi, katanya, tergantung dari daerah masing-masing. Namun, secara garis besar, jika daerah bisa mengelola hutan, tata ruang dan lingkungan sebenarnya peluang bagus. Namun, harus ada pengawasan ketat dari provinsi dan pusat plus insentif.

“Seringkali daerah diberi kewenangan, tapi tidak jelas sejauh mana. Pemerintah pusat masih mempunyai kewenangan besar terhadap kehutanan. Insentif juga tak jelas.”

Dia juga menyoroti tumpang tindih izin pengelolaan kawasan hutan. Dalam salah satu bab penelitian, memperlihatkan, 1999-2010, pemerintah pusat mengeluarkan kebijakan yang memberikan sinyal beragam kepada daerah.

“Ada beberapa peraturan membolehkan pemerintah daerah mengelola sumber daya alam, ada peraturan memberikan sinyal kewenangan ditarik ke pusat.”

Ketidakjelasan ini, menyebabkan banyak kebimbangan di daerah hingga menciptakan celah mengelola hutan sembarangan. Untuk itu, perlu reformasi kebijakan pusat, daerah dan perizinan.

“Memang harus ada sinergi dan harmonisasi peraturan di pusat dulu. Bahwa ini mau pusat, target seperti apa, insentif, pengawasan dan lain-lain bagaimana?”

Pemerintahan Joko Widodo, katanya, berpeluang meningkatkan ini. “Perangkat sudah ada. Tinggal mau apa gak? Punya peluang, tantangan pasti ada.”

Dia mengatakan, ada beberapa kabupaten/kota sudah mengeluarkan perda berkontribusi bagi pengelolaan lingkungan. Contoh, di Aceh Tamiang dan Bontang, ada kebijakan mengenai perlindungan hutan, dan lingkungan.

Namun, katanya, sebagian besar daerah masih ketinggalan dalam mengeluarkan kebijakan pro perlindungan hutan dan lahan. Masih banyak daerah mengeluarkan kebijakan tetapi bertendensi mengeruk SDA. Selain itu, kecenderungan fiskal, dana bagi hasil atau alokasi umum dari pusat belum tersalur ke pengelolaan hutan.

Meskipun begitu, kata Fitrian, desentralisasi tetap bisa menjadi peluang, dan solusi di daerah. Pengelolaan lahan dan hutan akan selalu berinteraksi dengan masyarakat dan investor di daerah. “Kalau semua ditarik ke pusat, pemerintahan siapapun termasuk Jokowi akan sulit memberikan solusi bagi permasalahan di lapangan.”

Temuan lain, pelibatan masyarakat adat dalam mengelola hutan sejalan baik dalam menekan deforestasi.

“Mengikutsertakan masyarakat setempat menjadi prasyarat utama membuat kebijakan pro penyelamatan dan perlindungan hutan.”

Pemerintah pusat, katanya, perlu review rancangan pembangunan ekonomi nasional hingga memberikan sinyal ke daerah bahwa pertumbuhan baik adalah berkelanjutan alias tak merusak lingkungan.

Penggabungan Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan, bisa memberikan landasan pemerintah untuk memangkas perizinan yang terlalu banyak dan memonitor agar lebih transparan. Juga bisa memformulasikan kebijakan lebih tepat ke daerah termasuk soal pendanaan.

“Tetapi tergantung sejauhmana penggabungan ini bisa lebih efisien untuk birokrasi di daerah.”

Original links: http://www.mongabay.co.id/2014/11/18/potret-pengelolaan-hutan-di-era-desentralisasi/

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Think-tank to launch haze tracking portal next year

Channel News Asia, posted on 06 Nov 2014 17:33, by Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid,

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TRACKING DOWN THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HAZE

Stakeholders, including NGOs, that attended the roundtable discussion were generally supportive of the move, but some raised concerns over its implementation given the difficulty in obtaining concession maps, which are critical to tracking down those responsible for the haze.

There is hope that under the new Indonesian government, work on the “One Map” initiative, which aims to collate forest-licensing and land-use information, will be sped up.

“They have already gathered all the different information from the different ministries and consolidated it into one map,” said Fitrian Ardiansyah, executive director of Pelangi. “Unfortunately or fortunately, it has only been 68 per cent verified, so they need to go further in order to have 100 consolidated maps. So now that Indonesia has a new government, it is up to the new government to integrate this map into their own policies.”

He added: “In the old days, several ministries would have their different maps so if you want to prosecute a particular company, it is quite difficult. So which map do you want to refer to? But with one single initiative map … you will be able to use it to be able to do anything, including land use planning and prosecution, if they are found to be guilty of forest and land fires, for example.”

Original links: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/think-tank-to-launch-haze/1457212.html

(video included)

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Q&A WITH FITRIAN ARDIANSYAH, CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST

AUSTRALIA INDONESIA YOUTH ASSOCIATION, posted on June 15, 2014 by Tim Graham and Grace Dong,

Fitrian Ardiansyah is a climate and sustainability specialist, with over sixteen years’ experience in the fields of natural resource management, climate change, energy and sustainability. He is currently finalising his doctoral research at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University in Canberra, and is also the Program Development Director for Pelangi Indonesia and Fellow at the International League of Conservation Writers.

Fitrian speaking at CAUSINDY last year.

We spoke to him about his research background and experience studying in Australia.

Tell us a little about your background — what did you study, and where did you begin your career after you graduated?

Well, my interest in and passion for the environment go back to my high school time. I was born and brought up in Jakarta, a megapolitan and capital city in Indonesia. I was fortunate to study at a well-respected public senior high school in Jakarta (SMA Negeri 8). This school was, however, situated in a flood plain area. Hence, whenever a rainy season came, we experienced annual flooding. The frequent occurrence of flooding made me realised that even living in a big city like Jakarta we have been reminded all the time about critical environmental challenges we were facing as a society. With an increase in my level of understanding on urban environmental challenges, I then began to try to grasp a bigger issue – as a developing country accelerates its economic growth, unwanted consequences such as environmental degradation have become prevalent and, therefore, something needs to be done to find balanced solutions, i.e. developing a country’s economy without jeopardising its nature.

I continued my education and obtained my bachelor degree in environmental engineering at Bandung Institute of Technology and my Masters degree in environmental management and development from the Australian National University (ANU). After attaining my Masters degree, I went back to Indonesia working mostly for an NGO – to some extent in collaboration with the government, the private sector and communities – realising better and healthier ecosystems of Indonesia. Also, I had a chance to contribute at a global level, including as part of the Indonesian negotiating delegates at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, executive board member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and advisory board member of the Asian Young Leaders Climate Forum.

After a decade or more years of working in Indonesia and in the Southeast Asian region, I went back to the uni – the ANU. I am currently finishing my doctoral degree at the ANU. This education process and my work experience, including working and advising NGOs and the government, I believe, have enriched my knowledge and strengthened my love towards the environment and natural resource management.

Tell us more about your current job — where are you working, and what do you do? Do you use your Indonesian experience in this position?

I am a full time PhD scholar at the Australian National University. While I am at the ANU, I have been conducting research and policy work on climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g. on land use change, climate change adaptation, forest-climate, energy and relevant economic aspects) as well as contributing to the academic life as a course tutor and guest lecturer at the Crawford School of Public Policy and the Fenner School of Environment and Society.

I have been also intermittently working as an independent consultant on issues related to climate change, sustainability, forest-climate and energy.

How did you find your current job? Why do you think you were successful in getting the position?

There was a notification about scholarship for PhD in Australia provided by the Australian government. I thought it was a good time for me to come back to the uni and enhance my capacity further.

I would say, my previous experience has helped in getting this scholarship and acknowledgement.

What do you enjoy the most — and least — about living and working in Indonesia?

I was born and brought up in Indonesia. I would say, Indonesia has given me a tremendous challenge as well as opportunity (and optimism) with regard to natural resource and environmental management. Indonesia, as a country, is still young and developing but the population mostly have good desire to change for the better.

If you had four weeks to travel in Indonesia, where would you go?

I would love to see again some of the remote areas where you can still see endangered and endemic species of the islands. Once I went to the Bird Head of Papua and I was lucky to see the gigantic leatherback turtles and birds of paradise in the very same spot. That kind of experience has convinced me that we need to take care of our environment, not for other people, but for Indonesians, the current and future generations.

Share your thoughts on Indonesia’s future — in terms of politics, the economy, culture, etc.

As I said, I am quite cautiously optimistic about Indonesia’s future. As long as we, together with other Indonesians, are working tirelessly to reform the current government, economic and social systems, the future is going to be brighter. Ups and downs are of course parts of the journey of a nation.

Follow Fitrian on Twitter at @EcoFitrian.

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The nature factor deepens Thailand’s turmoil

NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW, By MICHAEL SAINSBURY, Contributing writer,

24 April 2014

…

Worse is to come. Droughts in Southeast Asia are now more frequent, more extreme and less predictable. The last big drought came in 2010; the one before that was in 2005. In the last century, these spells would only occur once a decade or even less, according to Fitrian Ardiansyah, climate and sustainability specialist at the Australian National University.

“In previous years, farmers have had the capacity to adapt,” he said. “But climate anomalies are happening more frequently and farmers have less capacity to” deal with them.

…

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Indonesia battles raging forest fires, takes heat on transboundary haze

By VOA News, 7 March 2014

…

Climate change and sustainability specialist Fitrian Ardiansyah said the proposed law could help tackle the source of the problem.

“If you just catch those that trigger fires on the ground, mostly they are just farmers, or poor contractors or something like that. If you get really companies or whoever is financing them it will be providing good signals to the market as well as to the sector itself that this is a serious issue, and it needs to be addressed seriously by governments involved in the region,” said Ardiansyah.

The bill targets foreign companies as well as those based in Singapore, but it may be difficult to prosecute those outside of the city-state.

Ardiansyah pointed out that the proposed law must also be matched by regional collaboration and strong measures from the Indonesian government.

Indonesia is the only country yet to sign the ASEAN treaty on Transboundary Haze, a legally binding agreement that obligates countries to cooperate on open burning and monitoring prevention efforts.

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Let public have access to haze tracking data

By Feng Zengkun, The Strait Times, Monday, 4 November 2013

…

Singapore had pushed for official land use and concession maps – showing where each company is allowed to conduct economic activities – to be made publicly available. However Indonesia and Malaysia resisted the idea, citing legal concerns.

“The problem is that ministers at the national level may be contributing the maps but local governments in Indonesia can issue their own permits to companies without reporting back to the national level,” said Mr Fitrian Ardiansyah, programme development director of the Pelangi Indonesia environmental think-tank.

…

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The power of education

By Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 15 March, 2013

…

Fitrian Ardiansyah from Indonesia, who is studying a PhD in Environmental Management and Development at ANU, and Fouzia Nasreen Sultana from Bangladesh, who is undertaking a PhD in Development Studies, also at ANU, both provided Oaktree ambassadors with a unique insight into life in Australia and shared how their studies will provide them with the skills to return to their communities, and contribute to policy development and sustainability.

These Australia Awardees are an example of Australia’s commitment to education and the power of education, both in Australia and overseas – all of which are an important component of Australia’s investment in education – the flagship of the Australian aid program.

…

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An inconclusive meeting

By Karl Wilson, CHINA DAILY ASIA PACIFIC, 29-Jun-2012

…

Different actions

Others were, however, more guarded in their criticism.

Climate and sustainability specialist with the Australian National University in Canberra, Fitrian Ardiansyah, says two different actions have to be distinguished – those taken by world leaders and those taken by community leaders, corporations, local governments and even some countries.

“Even prior to Rio+20, there was a sense world leaders would not agree on anything substantive,” he tells China Daily Asia Weekly.

Ardiansyah says the real challenge facing world leaders is trying to gain a binding, global consensus on ways to save the planet: “Because we face so many different issues from so many countries, the best world leaders could achieve in Rio was a statement of non-binding aspirations.”

Away from the main negotiations in Rio, he says a great deal was seen and heard on how sustainable development can be done and achieved: “So if we assess Rio+20 based on the consensus (or lack of it) achieved by the world leaders, we may conclude that it did not reach its goal. But if we see the dynamics outside and the showcase by different non-state actors (or even state actors individually, bilaterally or at regional level), we can still be optimistic.”

Financial support for sustainable development, environmental protection and green economy has been pledged, says Ardiansyah, adding that collaborative works among corporations, NGOs and other institutions have been continued and further promoted. Local governments have also shown that they can contribute to this good cause.

In 1992, world leaders pushed by a lot of organizations agreed on the basic foundation to promote sustainable development. Since then, many collaborative works have been created, continued, magnified and replicated.

Sustainable forestry through certification to combat illegal logging is one example. Sustainable marine activities and fisheries and responsible agriculture have been addressed and promoted.

Large-scale, medium-scale as well as community-based conservation and sustainable natural resource management have also been recognized.

“Corporations too have been gradually taking part in the cause of sustainable development by changing their policies or increasing corporate responsibility while many governments have increased transparency in such things as environmental management,” says Ardiansyah.

The challenge now, according to him, is whether the current rate of change towards sustainability is fast and sufficient enough to catch up and reverse the damage done to the environment.

…

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Exclusive interview: “Haze hell over Asia”

By Eco-Singapore, 30-Mar-2012

Interview with Climate & Sustainability specialist: Fitrian Ardiansyah

Personal background

 How did you get interested in environmental protection?
[FA]: The development of my passion for the environment goes back to my high school time. I was born and brought up in Jakarta, a big capital city in Indonesia. I, fortunately, went to a well respected public senior high school in Jakarta (SMA 8). This school was, however, situated in a flood plain area. Hence, whenever a rainy season came, this school experienced annual flooding. The frequent occurrence of flooding made me realised that even living in a big city like Jakarta we have been reminded all the time about critical environmental challenges we were facing as a society. With an increase in my level of understanding on urban environmental challenges, I then began to try to grasp a bigger issue – as a developing country accelerates its economic growth, unwanted consequences such as environmental degradation have become prevalent and, therefore, something needs to be done to find balanced solutions, i.e. developing a country’s economy without jeopardising its nature. I continued my education and obtained my bachelor degree in environmental engineering at Bandung Institute of Technology and my master degree in environmental management and development from the Australian National University (ANU). I am currently undertaking my doctoral degree at the ANU. This education process and my work experience, including working and advising NGOs and the government, have enriched my knowledge and strengthened my love towards the environment.

Problem

 Who was responsible for the forest fires in 1997?
[FA]: The causes of forest fires in 1997 have been a combination of different factors. These include, among others, a one million hectare peat land project for agriculture development in Central Kalimantan, expansion of plantations (both oil palm and industrial timber), logging concessions and uncontrolled shifting cultivation. Haze and massive forest and land fires were usually the results of clearing and preparing the lands (using fires) to develop plantations and agriculture and other land use activities. This happened because preparing lands using fires were considered as one of the cheapest methods available. Also, due to the fact that in 1997/98, Indonesia was experiencing one of the worst El Nino period, the opening up of the lands using fires had triggerred uncontrolled/massive fires, which had spread out across Sumatra, Borneo and other main islands in Indonesia.

 Why did it get so bad?
[FA]: The uncontrolled/massive fires due to land clearing and preparation were worsened by prolong drought periods during El Nino. In addition, the capacity to control fires was not sufficient on the ground, water was rare, coordination and law enforcement were difficult, and the political situation was not helpful either – this situation took place during the period of financial crisis and political crisis which had led to the fall of Suharto and the beginning of decentralisation/democratic era in Indonesia.

Efforts & results

 Subsequently, you were involved actively in many initiatives to mitigate forest fires, ie. REDD & RSPO. Which one do you feel made the most significant impact? Tell us more about that particular initiative in detail.
[FA]: Initiatives such as zero burning policy through ASEAN, promoting the sustainable palm oil development by the industry and NGOs through RSPO, and the development of incentives provision for forest protection and sustainable management of forests under REDD have, of course, contributed to an increase of public awareness level over environmental protection, as well as improved national and sub‐national policy development which promotes good forest and land management – including with the issuance of moratorium for new concessions to develop plantations in forest area. The government, the business sector and other actors at least now are aware that they have responsibility to manage the land responsibly. However, those initiatives still have big challenges, among others, to show that forest left standing is much more profitable than logged. This is why there is no one silver bullet available which can help addressing the issue of land use management, including mitigating forest and land fires, in Indonesia. A combination of different inititaives is imperative to tackle these issues.

 What results did that initiative achieve, or is expected to achieve?
[FA]: RSPO, with its strengths and weaknesses, at least has opened the eyes of the business sector about the importance, opportunities and challenges in pursuing sustainability in the palm oil sector. There is a long way to go to achieve a critical mass of corporations engaging RSPO and undertaking real challenges, including those who are coming from Singapore and Malaysia investing in palm oil development in Indonesia. Involvement of corporate actors from the whole supply chain is crucial to ensure the success of sustainable palm oil. With regard to REDD, it is now a critical period for the Indonesian government and other countries who support this initiative to show that protecting forest and/or sustainably managing it will be financially rewarded. This is important because the opportunity costs to do other things in land use management are often greater than forest protection.

 What challenges did you face in your efforts?
[FA]: Numerous challenges occurred and will be more in the future. One of these is to have an increased support from the corporate sector to genuinely take the lead in showing that sustainability is a real endevaour and a good business and not only lips service. Secondly, creating good land use governance system that can ensure participation of important players/stakeholders, including marginalised communities is not easy. And last but not least, another clear challenge is to develop and provide concrete positive incentives so that those who are currently protecting and managing forest and their land sustainably can get rewarded.

Current situation

 What is the situation now regarding forest fires in Indonesia?
[FA]: It is getting better but Indonesia should focus on preventive measures incuding continuosly promoting good land use management system, being consistent for not giving permits on forests and peat lands for land clearing, and working together with plantation owners and small farmers to adopt good agriculture practices and rehabilitating peat lands.

 Are the factors causing forests fires now still the same?
[FA]: The factors are relatively the same, although with the growing authority and power of local governments, actors at local level have played a more important role.

 For those of us who are based in Singapore, what can we do to help reduce the destruction of forests in Indonesia?
[FA]: There are companies owned or based in Singapore who are also investing in plantations and other land use activities in Indonesia. The Singaporean public and customers can help the reduction of deforestation in Indonesia by requesting these companies to adopt sustainable principles and requesting them to change their practices on the ground. As customers, the public in Singapore has all the rights to purchase sustainable products (and to have a healthy regional environment – no haze in a decade or so). If this can be done, this could send a strong signal that the market (reflected by its customers) is in favour of environmentally sound products – which eventually could push regional actors, including companies, to take more responsibilities to mitigate forest fires and haze in the region

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Indonesia: is its tricky terrain keeping solar at bay

By Paul French, PV Insider, 13-Mar-2012

…

Fitrian Ardiansyah, an Indonesian climate and sustainability specialist, believes that this hefty requirement for PLN to subsidise energy, “has various perverse economic implications.” He points out that, “almost a third of Indonesia’s 225 million inhabitants lack access to electricity, especially in poorer rural areas. Subsidies also lead to the overconsumption of energy because the actual cost of that energy is not reflected in the price consumers pay.”

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Pengamat: KTT Durban membuat PR bagi Indonesia

By Kunto Wibisono (Editor), Antara News, Jakarta | Wed, 14-Dec-2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi Perubahan Iklim ke-17 di Durban, Afrika Selatan, yang menghasilkan beberapa kesepakatan menimbulkan lebih banyak pertanyaan lanjutan akan keseriusan negara-negara yang terlibat untuk menanggulangi perubahan iklim dan membuat pekerjaan rumah bagi Indonesia, kata seorang pengamat perubahan iklim di Australian National University.

“Hasil kesepakatan tersebut juga malahan membuat pekerjaan rumah tambahan bagi Indonesia dan negara lain untuk bekerja lebih keras karena sampai saat ini belum ada payung perjanjian global yang bisa menjamin bahwa stabilisasi iklim bisa dicapai secara global,” kata Fitrian Ardiansyah dalam surat elektroniknya yang diterima ANTARA di Jakarta, Rabu.

KTT yang berlangsung dua pekan dan dengan perpanjangan waktu satu setengah hari berakhir pada Minggu (11/12).

Negosiasi yang cukup melelahkan di KTT Durban akhirnya menghasilkan beberapa kesepakatan, yang dikenal sebagai Landasan Durban (Durban Platform) di antaranya berupa disepakatinya periode kedua Protokol Kyoto, peta jalan untuk pembahasan kesepakatan yang mengikat untuk pengurangan emisi seluruh negara, Green Climate Fund, Komite Adaptasi dan REDD+.

Fitrian, yang menanggapi hasil kesepakatan tersebut dan terlebih dampaknya terhadap bumi serta Indonesia secara khusus, mengatakan bahwa didapatkannya kesepakatan tentang periode kedua Protokol Kyoto, yang akan dimulai pada Januari 2013 sepertinya sangat penting dikarenakan satu-satunya perjanjian yang mengikat 37 negara industri (maju) untuk pengurangan emisi sekitar lima persen berdasarkan tingkatan tahun 1990, akan berakhir periode pertamanya pada tahun 2012.

“Hanya saja, yang perlu dipertanyakan, apakah di periode kedua tersebut, Protokol Kyoto akan mempunyai kekuatan yang sama karena beberapa negara maju seperti Kanada, Jepang dan Rusia sempat menyatakan untuk tidak akan terlibat di periode kedua ini apalagi ditambah bahwa Amerika Serikat memang tidak pernah meratifikasi protokol ini,” katanya.

Mengenai kesepakatan akan peta jalan untuk mendapatkan kesepakatan yang mengikat bagi pengurangan emisi seluruh negara yang diharapkan bisa dicapai pada tahun 2015, dan berlaku pada 2020, dia mengatakan kesepakatan itu terkesan sebagai taktik mengulur waktu dan dikhawatirkan bahwa emisi yang dilepaskan ke atmosfir sudah melewati ambang batas untuk manusia bisa melakukan stabilisasi iklim agar tidak menimbulkan dampak yang parah.

Menurut dia, tidak ada jaminan bahwa kesepakatan tersebut nantinya bisa mengatur suhu rata-rata muka bumi menjadi di bawah dua derajat Celsius dikarenakan tidak adanya komitmen baru dari negara-negara yang terlibat sejak Kopenhagen.

“Komitmen yang ada sekarang terhitung malahan bisa menjurus kepada peningkatan suhu rata-rata muka bumi yang bisa mencapai 3.5 derajat Celsius lebih,” kata Fitrian.

Dia juga mengatakan tidak ada jaminan bahwa kesepakatan yang dicapai nantinya bisa diratifikasi oleh negara-negara yang terlibat.

Pengalaman Protokol Kyoto, katanya, menunjukkan butuh waktu yang cukup lama untuk banyak negara meratifikasi protokol tersebut.

Mengenai kesepakatan akan desain dan rencana kerja Green Climate Fund, dia berpendapat terdapat kesepakatan untuk mobilisasi pendanaan dari sumber-sumber pemerintah dan swasta, namun yang jadi pertanyaan adalah bagaimana realisasinya ke depan.

Hal ini dikarenakan banyak negara yang biasanya akan berdalih dengan krisis keuangan global dan kemudian tidak akan menepati janjinya mengucurkan pendanaan yang diperlukan untuk mengurangi emisi dan beradaptasi terhadap perubahan iklim, terutama untuk negara berkembang.

Kesepakatan akan pendanaan REDD+ dari sumber publik, swasta dan juga mekanisme pasar walau tidak tercapai kesepakatan akan jendela khusus dari Green Climate Fund untuk REDD+ bisa membuka peluang untuk investasi baru dan jangka panjang untuk REDD+, katanya.

“Hanya saja banyak aspek lainnya tentang REDD+ tidak didapatkan kesepakatan di Durban dan hal ini bisa dikategorikan akan mempersulit pengembangan REDD+ yang lebih kredibel ke depannya,” kata Fitrian, penerima “Australian Leadership Award and Allison Sudradjat Award”.

Tentang kesepakatan akan terbentuknya Komite Adaptasi, dia berpendapat terbentuknya komite itu merupakan satu langkah penting untuk membantu negara-negara yang rentan akan dampak perubahan iklim, termasuk Indonesia. (M016)

Original link: http://www.antaranews.com/berita/288826/pengamat-ktt-durban-membuat-pr-bagi-indonesia

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RI delegation to Durban bearing national, global missions

By Fardah, Antara News, Jakarta | Tue, 06-Dec-2011

…

According to Fitrian Ardiansyah, an environmental observer taking a doctorate decree at Australian National University, the Durban meeting would be considered successful if it can make various important decisions including on the extension of the 2007 Kyoto Protocol.

He further said that the UN conference in general, and the Indonesian delegation in particular, would be seen as successful if they also managed to push for the realization of a commitment from the industrialized countries to provide fast-track financing of the Green Climate Fund of $30 billion from 2010-2012 and $100 billion per year until 2020.

The Durban meeting is expected to launch the Adaptation Committee, make a firmer commitment on establishments of a “green climate fund” and fast-track financing, as well as an agreement on the technical aspects of REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation).

The immediate “operationalization” of the Adaptation Committee envisaged in the Cancun Agreement, would oblige developed nations to help form and implement adaptation policies in vulnerable countries, and ensure that significant climate aid goes to adaptation projects.

“The Indonesian people are waiting whether the Durban Conference will be fruitful or just create more questions,” Fitrian said.

…

Original link: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/1323180318/ri-delegation-to-durban-bearing-national-global-missions

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Apa yang  bakal didapat Indonesia?

by UWD, Koran Tempo, Jakarta | Mon, 05-Dec-2011

…

Fitrian Ardiansyah, pengamat perubahan iklim di Australian National University, memberi sejumlah tolok ukur keberhasilan delegasi Indone sia di Konferensi Durban. “Bisa memperjuangkan terbentuknya Komite Adaptasi dan REDD+,“ ujarnya.

Menurut Fitrian, Komite Adaptasi merupakan mandat dari Cancun Agreement. Komite ini penting bagi Indonesia yang merupakan negara kepulauan yang rentan terhadap dampak perubahan iklim. Dia berharap Indonesia dapat mengusulkan adanya “special window“ bagi REDD+ yang dapat dimanfaatkan oleh negara hutan tropis.

…

Original link: http://epaper.korantempo.com/PUBLICATIONS/KT/KT/2011/12/05/ArticleHtmls/Apa-yang-Bakal-Didapat-Indonesia-05122011013016.shtml?Mode=1

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Durban ajang pertaruhan komitmen

by Fidelis E. Satriastanti, Berita Satu, Jakarta | Saturday, 03-Dec-2011

“Durban akan berhasil dan Delegasi RI dianggap berhasil apabila ada  keputusan atau paling tidak sinyal kuat mengenai komitmen periode kedua  untuk Protokol Kyoto.

Indikator keberhasilan perundingan perubahan iklim yang saat ini digelar  di Durban, Afrika Selatan, akan banyak bertumpu pada adanya komitmen kuat untuk segera menetapkan capaian target penurunan emisi periode  kedua.

“Durban akan berhasil dan Delegasi RI dianggap berhasil apabila ada  keputusan atau paling tidak sinyal kuat mengenai komitmen periode kedua  untuk Protokol Kyoto. Kita ketahui komitmen periode pertama Protokol Kyoto akan berakhir pada akhir 2012. Bila tidak ada sinyalemen yang kuat  akan adanya kesepakatan mengenai komitmen periode kedua, akan sulit  bagi siapapun untuk melakukan aksi mitigasi (pengurangan) emisi  perubahan iklim secara global. Karena Protokol Kyoto merupakan cermin  tanggung jawab negara maju untuk pengurangan emisi,” kata Fitrian Ardiansyah, pengamat perubahan iklim dari Australian National University.

Protokol Kyoto adalah komitmen mengikat bagi negara-negara maju untuk menurunkan emisi mereka sebesar 5 persen dari level emisi di tahun 1990, yang akan kadaluarsa pada akhir tahun 2012.

Lebih lanjut, Fitrian mendorong untuk diresmikannya Komite Adaptasi, yang merupakan mandat hasil kesepakatan COP 16 (Conference of the  Parties) di Cancun, Meksiko, Desember 2010 lalu.

“Peresmian Komite  Adaptasi bukan hanya penting bagi Indonesia, sebagai negara kepulauan  yang rentan terhadap dampak perubahan iklim, tetapi juga bagi banyak  negara lainnya yang sama atau bahkan lebih rentan,” kata Fitrian.

Mengenai pendanaan, Fitrian mengatakan Indonesia bisa dianggap berhasil  apabila ada “special window” bagi REDD+ yang dapat dimanfaatkan oleh negara hutan tropis untuk menerapkan inisiatif penyelamatan hutan lebih  lanjut.

“Khusus untuk “fast-track financing”, Indonesia akan dianggap berhasil  bila bersama negara lainnya berhasil mendorong negara maju memenuhi  komitmennya, sejumlah US$30 Miliar hingga 2012. Bila komitmen ini tidak  terbukti, akan sangat sulit merangkai mekanisme penadaan lainnya yang  sangat dibutuhkan untuk mitigasi dan adaptasi perubahan iklim di skala  global ke depannya,” tutur Fitrian.

Tidak hanya itu, Fitrian menambahkan mengenai REDD+, beberapa aspek teknis perlu diperjelas dan mendapatkan kesepakatan terutama yang berkaitan  dengan tingkat referensi (RL/ reference level) dan tingkat referensi  emisi (REL/ reference emission level), yang keduanya sangat penting  untuk mengukur keberhasilan REDD+, serta mekanisme MRV (measurement, report and verification) atau pengukuran, pelaporan dan verifikasi, yang  sangat penting untuk menunjukkan bahwa REDD+ bila diterapkan memang  akan menghasilkan pengurangan deforestasi dan penurunan emisi dari  deforestasi.

“Konferensi Perubahan Iklim di Durban berperan sangat penting untuk  menunjukkan apakah pemerintahan dan masyarakat dunia mau bersatu  memerangi ancaman perubahan iklim. Masyarakat Indonesia menunggu apakah  KTT Durban berbuah manis atau malahan menghasilkan lebih banyak  pertanyaan,” kata Fitrian.

Original link: http://www.beritasatu.com/nasional/19835-durban-ajang-pertaruhan-komitmen.html

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RI pushes for funding amid grim forum

by Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 12/02/2011 10:09 AM

…Fitrian Ardiansyah, the climate and sustainability specialist said that although it seems no way out to attain agreement on the Kyoto protocol, Indonesia should negotiate for several things.

“The conference should gain a decision or strong indications for a second period commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. Otherwise, it will be difficult to reduce emissions,” Fitrian said.

According to him, the conference should also legalize the Commission of Adaptation, which will be important not only to Indonesia, which is vulnerable to climate change and made up of islands, but also for other similar countries in the world.

Original link: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/12/02/ri-pushes-funding-amid-grim-forum.html

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Pengamat: KTT Durban Diharapkan Hasilkan Perjanjian Mengikat

Jakarta, 2/12, 2012 (ANTARA) –  Masih ada pihak yang berharap bahwa Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi (KTT) Perubahan Iklim ke-17 di Durban, Afrika Selatan,  menghasilkan perjanjian di tingkat dunia yang mengikat, kata  pengamat lingkungan hidup, Fitrian Ardiansyah.

“Namun saya berpikir KTT Durban akan berhasil dan delegasi RI juga dianggap berhasil bila setidaknya beberapa keputusan penting dicapai,” kata Fitrian kepada ANTARA di Jakarta, Jumat.

Dalam surat elektroniknya terkait KTT Durban, Fitrian lebih jauh mengatakan indikator keberhasilan KTT Durban,  di antaranya adalah bila ada sinyal kuat mengenai komitmen periode kedua Protokol  Kyoto, diresmikannya Komite Adaptasi, kejelasan mengenai ‘Green Climate Fund’ dan ‘fast-track financing’ serta kesepatakan tentang aspek teknis REDD+.

“Kita ketahui komitmen periode pertama Protokol  Kyoto akan berakhir pada akhir 2012,” katanya.

Menurut Fitrian, bila tidak ada sinyalemen yang kuat akan adanya kesepakatan mengenai komitmen periode kedua, maka akan sulit bagi siapa pun untuk melakukan aksi mitigasi (pengurangan) emisi perubahan iklim secara global karena Protokol Kyoto merupakan cermin tanggung jawab negara maju untuk pengurangan emisi.

Indikator kedua ialah diresmikannya Komite Adaptasi yang merupakan mandat hasil kesepakatan KTT ke-16 di Cancun Desember 2010.

Indonesia rentan

Peresmian Komite Adaptasi bukan hanya penting bagi Indonesia, sebagai negara kepulauan yang rentan terhadap dampak perubahan iklim, tetapi juga bagi banyak negara lainnya yang sama atau bahkan lebih rentan, katanya.

Indikator ketiga ialah kesepakatan terhadap kejelasan ‘Green Climate Fund’ sekaligus kejelasan terhadap ‘fast-track financing’.

Untuk ‘Green Climate Fund’,  katanya, Indonesia bisa dianggap berhasil bila, sebagai contoh, ada ‘special window’ bagi REDD+ yang dapat dimanfaatkan oleh negara hutan tropis untuk menerapkan inisiatif penyelamatan hutan lebih lanjut.

Khusus untuk ‘fast-track financing’, Indonesia akan dianggap berhasil bila bersama negara lainnya berhasil mendorong negara maju memenuhi komitmennya , yang sudah disebutkan sebelumnya sejumlah 30 miliar dolar AS hingga 2012.

“Bila komitmen ini tidak terbukti, akan sangat sulit merangkai mekanisme pendanaan lainnya yang sangat dibutuhkan untuk mitigasi dan adaptasi perubahan iklim di skala global ke depannya,” kata Fitrian yang  sedang mengambil gelar doktor di  Australian National University.

Untuk REDD+,  katanya, beberapa aspek teknis perlu diperjelas dan mendapatkan kesepakatan terutama yang berkaitan dengan tingkat referensi (RL/ reference level) dan tingkat referensi emisi (REL/ reference emission level), yang keduanya sangat penting untuk mengukur keberhasilan REDD+, serta mekanisme MRV (measurement, report and verification) atau pengukuran, pelaporan dan verifikasi, yang sangat penting untuk menunjukkan bahwa REDD+ bila diterapkan memang akan menghasilkan pengurangan deforestasi dan penurunan emisi dari deforestasi.

“Masyarakat Indonesia menunggu apakah KTT Durban berbuah manis atau malahan menghasilkan lebih banyak pertanyaan,” demikian Fitrian.

….

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Australia eyes carbon credit from Indonesia’s forests

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 11/25/2011 3:49 PM

“Australia’s carbon price policy opens up significant opportunities for Indonesia to tap into financial resources to support the development of REDD+ and to demonstrate that REDD+ indeed results in real emissions reduction. It is timely for Indonesia to push forward the development of this scheme in a credible way,” said Fitrian Ardiansyah, a climate and sustainability specialist based in the ANU. “REDD+ could lend Indonesia a competitive edge in a low carbon future,” Ardiansyah added.

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Original link: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/11/25/australia-eyes-carbon-credits-indonesia-s-forests.html

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Indonesian decree to bolster carbon fight

by David Fogarty, Reuters, SINGAPORE (re-published by Taipei Times, Thu, Jun 02, 2011 – Page 9)

…“There is no a clear system for monitoring, verifying and reporting the success and failure of the implementation of the moratorium except using the indicative map, which will be revised six-monthly,” forest policy analyst Fitrian Ardiansyah said.

…“Also, there is no clear indication for [an] enforcement system, so that the moratorium and the overall reform of land use and forestry can be achieved successfully,” said Ardiansyah, of the Australian National University in Canberra.

…

Original link: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2011/06/02/2003504738/1

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Karut Marut Pengelolaan Hutan RI

Oleh Algooth Putranto, Bisnis Indonesia, 28 April 2011

…Pengamat lingkungan dan perubahan iklim dari Australian National University (ANU), Fitrian Ardiansyah kepada Bisnis menuturkan tumpang tindih izin penggunaan lahan dan hutan seperti hal ini bukan hal yang baru di Indonesia.

…“Kebijakan tersebut seharusnya diterbitkan Januari lalu sesuai janji pemerintah. Namun sampai saat ini kebijakan ini belum diterbitkan dan ini menunjukkan ketidakpastian dalam pengelolaan ruang dan hutan,” tegasnya.

Senada dengan Fitrian, anggota DPR dari Komisi VI, Noura Dian Hartarony kasus proyek REDD di Kalteng mempertaruhkan kredibilitas Indonesia, terutama dalam menjamin pengelolaan hutan dan lahan Indonesia. (algooth.putranto@bisnis.co.id) (mfm)

Original link: http://www.bisnis.com/industri/agroindustri/21888-karut-marut-pengelolaan-hutan-ri

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Australia Awards support future leaders from developing countries

AusAID, March 2011

…Allison Sudradjat Awards recipients with Richard Marles: (from left) Mr Fitrian Ardiansyah, Dr Tantry Maulina, Mrs Meuthia Alvernia Naim, Ms Martha Yahimbu Mungkaje, Mr Alexander Rheeney, Mr Richard Marles, Mrs Rita Pranawati, Ms Ati Nurbaiti Hadimadja. Photo: AusAID…

Original link: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?ID=5084_316_6568_2557_2251

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Rachmat named special climate envoy

by Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, 21 May 2010

…WWF Indonesia climate and energy director Fitrian Ardiansyah hailed Rachmats appointment, but warned of overlapping lines-of-,au-thority at climate talks.”The position should promote national interests without negating functions of other officials,” he said.ple, to set integrated spatial planning for forestry, agriculture and mineral resources sectors to meet emission cut targets,” he said.

…

Original link: http://bataviase.co.id/node/220018

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Govt climate talk success questioned

by Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, 26 Mar 2010

…WWF Indonesia climate and energy director Fitrian Ardiansyah warned that Indonesia needed to focus on its own climate talk agenda rather than acting as a mediator. “Indonesia still promotes itself as a mediator bridging divides at climate change talks, but it has yet to formulate a clear position,” he said.

He said the countrys agenda should be discussed with all stakeholders before talks even began. The government has vowed to slash emissions by 26 percent by 2020 using its own budget Fitrian said the government should translate the pledged 26 percent into a national and regional level development agenda “It is important, for example, to set integrated spatial planning for forestry, agriculture and mineral resources sectors to meet emission cut targets,” he said.

Original link: http://202.52.131.11/node/145314

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WWF: Sangat riskan bangun PLTN di Indonesia

Oleh Heru Susilo Prayetno, Waspada Online, Kamis 18 Mar 2010,

JAKARTA – Organisasi lingkungan WWF-Indonesia menyatakan, sangat riskan bagi Indonesia untuk membangun Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Nuklir (PLTN).

“Sangat riskan membangun PLTN karena Indonesia negara yang rawan bencana,” kata Direktur Program Iklim dan Energi WWF-Indonesia, Fitrian Ardiansyah, tadi malam.

Fitrian menyatakan hal tersebut menanggapi pernyataan Komisi VII DPR RI yang menyetujui pembangunan PLTN di Indonesia.

“Kita hidup di daerah yang rawan gempa dan rawan bencana alam. Apa yang terjadi pada PLTN kalau ada gempa dan bencana alam lainnya? Maukah DPR dan pemerintah berani menanggung dampak lingkungan dan keselamatan yang sangat negatif di seluruh nusantara ini?” katanya.

Selain itu, katanya, investasi awal untuk pembangunan PLTN juga sangat mahal dan bahan baku PLTN yaitu uranium juga mahal. “Apakah pemerintah mau mensubsidinya?” ujarnya.

Menurutnya, limbah uranium juga harus dipikirkan karena tidak bisa diurai sampai ratusan tahun dan penyimpanannya pun harus benar-benar terjaga dari kebocoran.

Fitrian juga menyarankan, agar pemerintah dan DPR secara serius membandingkan sumber energi dari nuklir dengan energi terbarukan yang lebih ramah lingkungan seperti air, angin, surya, dan panas bumi.

“Apakah DPR sudah mengecek mana yang lebih efisien, ketersediaan dan keterlimpahan dari energi terbarukan dan bersih dibandingkan energi nuklir,” tegasnya.

Fitrian mencontohkan energi panas bumi Indonesia yang digunakan baru sekitar tiga persen dari potensi 27.000 megawatt.

…

Original link: http://www.waspada.co.id/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97878:wwf-sangat-riskan-bangun-pltn-di-indonesia&catid=17&Itemid=30

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Kopenhagen Masih Buntu

oleh Bram Hendarwan, Radio Nederland Wereldomroep Indonesia, 19 Des 2009

…Fitrian Ardiansyah, Program Direktur WWF Indonesia yang termasuk dalam delegasi Indonesia, mengatakan negara-negara berkembang seperti Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaraguay dan Cuba masih menolak kesepakatan yang diprakarsai Amerika Serikat tersebut.

‘Mereka masih mempertanyakan apakah kesepakatan tersebut bisa disebut “kesepakatan”,’ jelas Fitrian.

Isu prosedural

Keberatan beberapa negara tersebut terkait dengan masalah prosedural. ‘Draft kesepakatan baru masuk tadi malam (Sabtu malam 18/12), jadi menurut negara-negara yang menolak, belum cukup waktu untuk menelaah kesepakatan tersebut’, jelas Fitrian.

Selain itu, masalah transparansi juga menjadi salah satu pokok keberatan. Perundingan terakhir hanya melibatkan sebagian kecil peserta KTT. Menurut Fitrian kebuntuan yang saat ini terjadi juga disebabkan oleh lemahnya Presiden COP untuk menggawangi jalannya sesi perundingan. ‘Selama persidangan banyak terjadi interupsi’, kata Fitrian.

…Indonesia

Indonesia punya kecenderungan untuk mendukung kesepakatan. Menurut Fitrian, kesepakatan ini bisa menjadi awal untuk memberikan mandat baru untuk mencapai kesapakatan yang mengingkat 2010.

Fitrian menjelaskan tercapainya kesepakatan untuk penyediaan dana sebesar 30 milyar per tahun sampai tahun 2012 adalah hal yang positif. Dana tersebut akan bisa dipakai untuk adaptasi terhadap perubahan iklim dan mitigasi (pengurangan emisi gas rumah kaca) terutama dari sektor kehutanan.

Sampai berita ini diturunkan para di Bella Center, pusat KTT Iklim Kopenhagen, masih terus terjadi lobi. Presiden COP 15 masih mengupayakan agar keluar keputusan yang bisa disebut sebagai ‘Kesepakatan Kopenhagen’. Namun demikian, menurut Fitriansyah masih sulit diprediksi apakah hal itu akan bisa dicapai.

Original link: http://www.rnw.nl/id/bahasa-indonesia/article/kopenhagen-masih-buntu

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Situs redd-indonesia.org sediakan informasi program REDD atau Reducing Emissions from Deforestatation and Forest Degradation

Kesimpulan.com, 29 Agu 2009

…Selain itu, terdapat rubrik konsultasi yang diasuh Yani Saloh dari Cifor, Muchamad Muchtar dari PILI, dan Fitrian Ardiansyah dari WWF-Indonesia. Pam E. Minnigh, Direktur Eksekutif PILI mengatakan bahwa pihaknya ingin ada interaksi dengan publik. Skema REDD merupakan salah satu pendekatan untuk mengurangi 20 persen emisi gas rumah kaca yang berkaitan dengan hutan setiap tahunnya. Skema ini memperbolehkan konservasi hutan untuk berkompetisi secara ekonomis dengan berbagai kegiatan ekonomi lainnya yang memicu deforestasi.

Mengiringi peluncuran situs, dilakukan diskusi dengan pembicara Agus Purnomo (Kepala Sekretariat Dewan Nasional Perubahan lklim), Nur Masripatin (Departemen Kehutanan), Daniel Murdiyarso (Cifor), dan Fitrian Ardiansyah. Moderator diskusi adalah Goenawan Mohamad (Komunitas Salihara). Daniel, ilmuwan Indonesia yang tergabung dalam Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, mengatakan bahwa banyak negara sedang mempersiapkan diri untuk berpartisipasi dalam skema REDD.

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Original link: http://www.kesimpulan.com/2009/08/situs-redd-indonesiaorg-sediakan.html

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Rich Countries’ Weak Commitment Threatening Copenhagen Protocol

by Fidelis E Satriastanti | The Jakarta Globe, June 17, 2009

…Meanwhile, Fitrian Ardiansyah, program director for climate and energy for WWF-Indonesia, said progress was slow at the conference because the delegates were moving from the broad ideas discussed in previous meetings into the specific details of negotiations.

“Each country was given the opportunity to submit specific proposals, which is slowing down negotiations because they’re all pushing their own interests,” said Fitrian, who was also a member of the Indonesian delegation.

However, he said many developing countries still considered the key negotiating texts favorable to developed nations.

“Developed countries want the results to be legally binding, while developing countries don’t see the importance of making such an obligation,” he said.

Fitrian also criticized the Indonesian government for not setting more specific targets backed by detailed data, as this would be an advantage when negotiating with developed countries.

“India, China and even Brazil were able to get what they wanted because they presented precise data on how they intended to reduce emissions in their own countries,” he said.

“While it isn’t an obligation for developing countries to set targets and detailed numbers, it would be better if we did because it would show our preparedness to work rather than just waiting for donations.”

…

Original link: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/rich-countries-weak-commitment-threatening-copenhagen-protocol/312835

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Biofuel threat to Indonesian forest

by Simon Pollock, Aljazeera, 11 Jun 2008

…Fitrian Ardiansyah, the climate and energy programme director for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature in Indonesia, told Al Jazeera that oil palm plantations in Indonesia are a source of growing concern.

Ardiansyah worries that the cash crop is becoming an increasingly integral and indispensable part of Indonesia’s economy.

…Ardiansyah said statistics from the Indonesian ministry of forestry indicate that 70 per cent of Indonesia’s oil palm plantations were originally natural forests.

Original link: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2008/05/2008615165756831869.html

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WWF: Indonesia highly vulnerable to climate change, must act – Summary

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 28 Nov 2007 (re-published by Earth Times)

…”As rainfall decreases during critical times of the year, this translates into higher drought risk, consequently a decrease in crop yields, economic instability and drastically more undernourished people,” said Fitrian Ardiansyah, director of WWF Indonesia’s Climate and Energy Programme. “This will undo Indonesia’s progress against poverty and food insecurity.”

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Original link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/149289.html

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