Indonesia, UNEP Strengthen Forest Climate Partnership

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s efforts to curb deforestation gained new momentum this week as the Ministry of Forestry and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) formalized a partnership to advance the REDD+ initiative, an international framework aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The agreement, signed through an Implementing Arrangement (IA), builds on a memorandum of understanding reached in 2024 and signals a deeper commitment to joint climate action.

Head of Public Relations and International Cooperation at the Forestry Ministry, Ristianto Pribadi, emphasized that the arrangement reflects “a shared commitment to strengthening REDD+ implementation” and praised the constructive collaboration between the two institutions.

Officials noted that the partnership aligns with Indonesia’s broader climate targets, including the ambitious FOLU Net Sink 2030 goal and the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. Ristianto added that future cooperation is expected to bolster integrity in climate action, sustainable forest governance, and long-term resilience.

UNEP’s Climate Change Division Director Martin Krause highlighted the multifaceted role of forests, describing them as “solutions that address carbon storage, community protection, biodiversity conservation, and stronger forestry systems.”

He underscored UNEP’s commitment to supporting Indonesia through technical assistance, particularly in mobilizing results-based financing for REDD+ projects, preparing carbon markets, and advancing the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Krause also expressed hope that the collaboration would expand into social forestry and community-based enterprises, enhance forestry’s contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation, and strengthen safeguards and knowledge-based implementation at both national and subnational levels.

This agreement marks a significant step in Indonesia’s climate diplomacy, positioning forests not only as ecological assets but also as central pillars in the country’s strategy to meet global climate commitments. ***