April 22, 2022

“Invest in the Earth”: Indonesian activists hold Earth Day action at Ministry of Investment

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Jakarta, Indonesia
 – In commemoration of Earth Day, young climate activists held an action in front of the Ministry of Investment in Jakarta today, calling on the Indonesian government to prioritize environmentally responsible investments.

Climate Rangers Jakarta and Extinction Rebellion Jakarta, supported by 350.org Indonesia, demanded that the government stop all new investments in fossil fuels and swiftly transition to renewable energy.

Investment seems to be the focus of the Indonesian government lately, which is normal and expected for economic activity. But recklessly attracting investments, much of which are environmentally detrimental, will have major consequences for the future of our planet. The recent IPCC climate reports make clear that the climate crisis is increasingly threatening, and that policy makers must take drastic measures to avoid the worst possible scenario. This means an end to fossil fuel finance and prioritizing renewable solutions.

Jeri Asmoro, 350.org Indonesia Digital Campaigner says,

“Indonesia’s presidency at this year’s G20 meeting, which will discuss the energy transition as part of its agenda, is a major moment. Energy is a sector that has the potential to attract significant investment if our government is serious about the energy transition. The support of policy makers, including the Ministry of Investment, is vital to enabling a just and renewable energy transition. Stop investing in the destructive fossil energy sector and choose investments that ensure a safe and livable future.”

Ginanjar Ariyasuta, Climate Rangers Jakarta says,

“Bappenas (The National Development Planning Agency) has issued an alarming loss figure related to the impact of climate change for Indonesia, totalling Rp. 544 Trillion ($37billion USD) and likely to increase in the future. This figure is proof of how reckless investments, especially those that have the potential to damage the climate, will only create economic losses for Indonesia. For this reason, choosing sustainable investments is an important part of the Indonesian government’s G20 presidency.”

Mellisa Kowara, Extinction Rebellion Jakarta says,

“Investments that are destructive instead of sustainable, directly facilitate the destruction of the earth, as the analysis of climate scientists and the IPCC becomes a reality. For this reason, we at XR Jakarta loudly remind policy makers to stop this moral madness and avoid our extinction by listening to science!”

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Drue Slatter – drue.slatter@350.org – +81 80-7529-9441

Jeri Asmoro – jeri.asmoro@350.org – +62 811-994-6789