Indonesia at COP26 Glasgow roundup: bilateral meetings, ending deforestation & reaching net zero emissions

President Joko Widodo attended the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland on Monday (1 November). 

During the World Leaders Summit, the president delivered his speech reiterating Indonesia’s commitment to addressing climate change issues, stating that “[in Indonesia], deforestation rates have dropped significantly – the lowest in the last twenty years. Forest fires fell by 82% in 2020.”

At the CEOs Forum attended by big investors from the United Kingdom, the president stated that it is important for both developed and developing countries to have synchronised climate change policies. 

“All of us, including the developed countries, should show and have more concrete steps in terms of climate control, especially in terms of funding support for developing countries in helping them transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy," he said.

President Widodo also conducted a meeting with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in which they agreed to increase bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the UK in the economic sectors, putting a particular attention to the green economy.

Johnson expressed the UK's interest in investing in Indonesia, as it would like to support Indonesia's economic transition, highlighting the importance of support in the form of green investment, support for multilateral development banks and affordable green technology - this is consistent with the remarks at the CEOs Forum.

President Widodo also held a bilateral meeting with Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, in which he relayed his wish that Slovenia will push for the finalisation of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations. 

He also made a remark about discrimination Indonesia faces, stating that “on environmental cooperation, I regret that there is still discriminative treatment by the European Union against Indonesia’s sustainable palm oil”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his full support for Indonesia’s G20 presidency next year.

President Widodo also visited the Indonesian Pavilion, which is known as Indonesia's soft diplomacy strategy to express the commitment, implementation and achievements towards FoLU Net-Sink 2030 which is related to deforestation. Indonesia also expressed its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2060.