Central Sulawesi Boosts Emission Cuts with RAD GRK

RRI.CO.ID, Palu - The Central Sulawesi (Sulteng) Provincial Administration is fast-tracking its climate commitments by finalizing the Regional Action Plan for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction (RAD GRK).

During a public consultation held in Palu on Monday, April 6, 2026, officials emphasized that low-carbon development is no longer just an environmental program, but a mandatory blueprint for sustainable economic growth. Regional Secretary Novalina noted that while the province has made strides, current data shows a need for more aggressive intervention to meet national and regional benchmarks.

“Low-carbon development is not just an environmental program, but our goal to ensure sustainable development,” Novalina said during the session, as quoted by Antara.

Data revealed during the consultation showed that Central Sulawesi achieved a 24.93 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2024. While significant, this figure remains below the province's designated target of 27.3 percent.

The RAD GRK document is designed to act as an accelerative strategy to close the current emission gap by providing a cross-sectoral operational roadmap.

This roadmap focuses on several key areas, beginning with energy and industry, where the goal is to transition toward cleaner power sources and sustainable manufacturing. In the forestry and land use sector, the plan prioritizes the protection of vital terrestrial carbon sinks to maintain natural absorption levels.

Additionally, the strategy aims to leverage blue carbon ecosystems by utilizing coastal and marine resources for effective carbon sequestration. Finally, the plan addresses agriculture and waste management through the implementation of sustainable farming techniques and circular waste processing systems.

Beyond environmental protection, the RAD GRK serves as a formal guide for the province to access international climate financing. Specifically, it positions Central Sulawesi to benefit from Result-Based Payment (RBP) schemes under the REDD+ framework.

Novalina stressed that the consistency of local implementation is the primary factor in securing the trust of international development partners.

“The trust of development partners depends heavily on the quality of the documents and the consistency of the implementation we carry out,” she added.

The public consultation involved approximately 60 participants, including government officials, academics, and civil society representatives. Their feedback will be used to refine the document, ensuring that the policies are not only theoretically sound but also practically implementable at the grassroots level. ***