Indonesian Parliament Seeks University Support for Climate Change Control Bill

RRI.CO.ID, Banjarmasin – Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian parliament People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Eddy Soeparno, has emphasized that forest and land fires occurring in several parts of Indonesia should serve as a serious warning that the climate crisis is becoming increasingly evident and requires a more integrated policy response. He made the statement while speaking at the 53rd MPR Goes to Campus event at Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

According to him, universities play an important role in ensuring that environmental issues are not addressed only when disasters occur. He said environmental challenges must also be tackled through science-based prevention and mitigation policies.

"We need a legal framework capable of integrating mitigation and adaptation efforts, funding, data, institutional arrangements, public participation, and law enforcement in addressing the climate crisis," Eddy stressed.

Eddy said Indonesia needs a legal framework to ensure that climate policies are implemented in a measurable, transparent, coordinated, and accountable manner. In this regard, he highlighted the need for a Climate Change Control Bill, which is currently under discussion.

"The Climate Change Control Bill emphasizes the state's role in protecting the public from the impacts of the climate crisis. It addresses how we prepare for adaptation, how funding is arranged, how data is utilized, and how the government can be held accountable for achieving the targets that have been set in addressing climate change," he explained.

Therefore, Eddy called on university professors and the wider academic community to advance the bill. He also invited ULM academics to provide input on the proposed legislation, particularly regarding challenges facing South Kalimantan, such as forest and land fires, ecosystem management, community resilience, and climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

"If we want to create a law that truly works, we must listen to the voices of regional communities and universities. I want input from ULM professors, lecturers, researchers, and students to become part of the process of strengthening this bill," Eddy said.

Eddy, of the National Mandate Party (PAN), emphasized that he would continue seeking input from various stakeholders, including universities and regional heads, to gather public aspirations and secure support for the discussion of the Climate Change Control Bill. "We will continue to gather input from various stakeholders while seeking support from universities, regional governments, and other policymakers to advance this Climate Change Control Bill," Eddy concluded.