TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo extended his invitation to the students of Stanford University, San Francisco, United States, to visit Indonesia’s new capital of Nusantara or IKN in East Kalimantan. During his public lecture at the campus on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, he expected the students to do some quick research and take a closer look at IKN's green development programs and processes.

“I think it could be a good idea, an exciting idea, for Stanford University students to go on a study tour to Nusantara,” Jokowi said in his public lecture at the campus on Wednesday, November 15. “I am a forestry graduate. So if needed, I can be the guide,” he said, followed by loud applause.

Jokowi is currently in the United States to attend a series of APEC High-Level Conferences in San Francisco on November 16 to November 17. On Monday, November 13, he met with US President Joe Biden at the White House. The two leaders agreed to elevate the Indonesia-US partnership to a so-called Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

Jokowi also delivered a public lecture at Georgetown University, Washington DC, on Monday, November 13, where he talked about the nation's philosophy of Pancasila as a guide to a state life.

In his lecture at Stanford University, Jokowi said that climate change and the energy transition are very urgent issues in the world. He highlighted that Indonesia and other developing countries are grappling with major challenges to implement energy transition, particularly in technology transfer and financing.

Jokowi stressed that collaboration and strategic steps are necessary to address the impacts of climate change and that Indonesia's commitment should not be questioned as it has so far managed to reduce emissions by 91.5 million tons and the deforestation rate by 104,000 hectares by 2022.

“Indonesia has enormous green energy potential, that can be used to preserve the earth. The potential reaches 3600 gigawatts from solar energy, hydropower from rivers as we have 4400 rivers, as well as wind power, geothermal power, wave power, and bioenergy” Jokowi said.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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