Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Moeldoko emphasized Indonesia's commitment to support a green economy and a sustainable environment in line with global aspirations. This was conveyed by Moeldoko in his meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Piket at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, Wednesday, who discussed Economic Cooperation between Indonesia and the European Union.
"We always emphasize how we can understand the global desire for environmental sustainability, achieve good and safe working standards, and respect local communities," said Moeldoko in a press release from KSP in Jakarta, Wednesday. The Chief of Staff also emphasized that the principle of a green economy will be one of the priorities of Indonesia's G20 Presidency in 2022.
The European Union Ambassador Vincent Piket also appreciated Indonesia's good steps, especially because this pro-environment policy is in line with the vision of the European Union. For information, in March 2019, the European Union Commission passed the implementing rules for the Renewable Energy Directive/RED II. In the document, the European Union Commission concluded that crude palm oil (CPO) causes massive deforestation globally and does not categorize CPO as a raw material for biofuel production.
This policy also requires European Union countries to use RED II at least 32% of their country's total energy consumption and even plans to phase out the use of palm oil to zero percent by 2030. This policy will affect Indonesia's CPO exports to the European Union. In fact, Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producing country and the European Union is one of Indonesia's main export destinations.
However, Moeldoko who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (APKASINDO), assured that the Government of Indonesia continues to strive to increase the productivity of smallholder oil palm plantations through the smallholder palm oil rejuvenation program. Moeloko said that this policy will ensure more sustainable and quality palm oil, and reduce the risk of illegally clearing new land. This rejuvenation program subsidized by the Government is specifically for smallholder plantations with a maximum land ownership of 4 hectares per farmer. Moeldoko emphasized that this policy is a form of the government's alignment with smallholders in the palm oil sector. "Because if people don't have oil palm activities, they will destroy the forest (to earn income)," said Moeldoko.
