Jakarta – Chair of the Regional Cooperation Desk of the DPR RI Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), Putu Supadma Rudana said that the welfare that is being fought for for the people of ASEAN must implement the concept of a green economy. Indonesia as the host of the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) will oversee the implementation of the green economy.
“Right now it’s just a matter of how the ASEAN region is ready for a green transition, and the ASEAN community will receive support in an inclusive manner in improving the economy,” said the Head of the Regional Cooperation Desk of the DPR RI Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), Putu Supadma Rudana in Jakarta.
The most important thing is that the economic activities carried out must be sustainable, he said.
“Don’t let it happen that maybe one country has high growth; Other ASEAN countries are actually incomplete or have low growth,” he explained.
He emphasized that it is necessary to guard or protect the green economy, both within one country and within one ASEAN region, of course it must be guarded jointly by involving all ASEAN members.
“All of this is so that inequality does not become protracted, and we in Parliament/AIPA and ASEAN are obliged to continue to oversee the implementation of the green economy and overcoming its inequality,” said Putu.
Meanwhile, Manager of the Center for World Trade Studies at Gadjah Mada University Lukas Andri Surya Singarimbun said that currently, ASEAN cooperation is urgently needed to deal with the negative impacts of climate change in various main sectors of the ASEAN community. For example, ASEAN has the potential to lose at least 35% of the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2050 due to climate change.
According to him, it is feared that the challenge of climate change will make it more difficult for the people of ASEAN to obtain nutritious food. In 2020 alone, 46% of ASEAN people will not have access to healthy and nutritious food.
In addition, problems such as massive waves of migration due to lack of food, issues of hunger, poverty, and security will also complicate integration and accelerate regional economic growth.
To note, the green economy is an economic system that is not only concerned with economic growth, but also pays attention to aspects of environmental sustainability and inclusive development. In practice, this economic system can be implemented by making efficient use of resources, reducing carbon emissions, and reducing pollutants and waste that can damage the environment. Seeing the current condition of ASEAN, the green economy strategy needs to be implemented by the government and the people of ASEAN countries.
In its development, ASEAN has created a framework for cooperation in the development of a green economy in the region, one of which is through the adoption of the Framework for Circular Economy for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) at the 20th AEC Council Meeting. This framework serves as a long-term guideline for ASEAN in promoting sustainable development through circular economy practices. ASEAN has also issued various cooperation reports to see and measure the potential impacts of climate change in the region.
“Through the implementation of green economy practices in the region, countries in ASEAN can create many new jobs, up to 30 million jobs related to business development and green economy businesses by 2030,” said Lukas Andri.
