SDGs Annual Conference 2022, Real Action Towards a Green Economy

JAKARTA - The 2022 SDGs Annual Conference which took place on 1-2 December 2022 has the theme "Leveraging Real Actions in a Green Economy to Achieve SDGs". In this fifth annual Indonesian SDGs conference, the Ministry of National Development Planning or the National Development Planning Agency (Ministry of PPN/Bappenas) as the SDGs Implementation Coordinator expressed appreciation to a number of parties who have taken real action to achieve SDGs and demonstrated how government and non-government organization are involved in efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

The Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa presented the Indonesia’s SDGs Action Awards and I-SIM for Cities to the winners in eleven categories. "Congratulations to the winners. I'm proud and you are all great," said Suharso Monoarfa at the 2022 SDGs Annual Conference at the Sultan Hotel Jakarta, Thursday, December 1st, 2022.

The following is a list of winners of the Indonesia’s SDGs Action Awards for each category:

1. Ministry/agency category

Winner: Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Second best: Ministry of State Owned Enterprises (BUMN)

Third best: Central Bureau of Statistics

2. Provincial government category

Winner: Central Java

Second best: North Kalimantan

Best third: Gorontalo Province

3. City government category with the Integrated-Sustainability Indonesia Movement (I-SIM) for Cities award

Winner: Semarang City

Second best: City of Tebing Tinggi

Third best: City of Salatiga

Runner Up 1: Manado City

Runner Up 2: Blitar City

Runner Up 3: City of Parepare

4. College category

Winner: IPB University

Second best: Hasanuddin University

Third best: University of Indonesia

5. Research institute category

Winner: Rotasi Institute

Second best: Perkumpulan Prakarsa

Third best: Pattiro Foundation

6. Big business sector category

First best: PT Sido Muncul Herbal Medicine and Pharmaceutical Industry, Tbk

Second best: PT Bank Central Asia, Tbk

Third best: PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Persero), Tbk

7. Small and medium business sector category

Winner: PT Siak Alam Lestari

Second best: PT Wasteforchange Alam Indonesia

Third best: PT Indonesia Circular Economy (Surplus Indonesia)

8. Civil society organization category

Winner: Karampuang Mamuju Foundation

Second best: Association of Indonesian Breastfeeding Mothers

Third best: Women's Ship Institute

9. Philanthropic organization category

Winner: Lazis Muhammadiyah

Second best: Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation

Third best: Laz Harapan Dhuafa

10. Youth organization category

Best first: EwasteRJ

Second best: Teluk Awur Mangrove Ecosystem Study Group (Kesemat)

Best third: Indonesian Planning Generation Forum

11. Media category

Winner: Kompas.id

Second best: Sindonews.com

Third best: Investor Daily

Minister Suharso Monoarfa quoted the report of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in the "Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2022". The report estimates that the achievement of the SDGs in the Asia Pacific Region will pass by 2030.

"Sustainable development is indeed important, even though we are hit by pressures, like the pandemic," said Suharso.

Indonesia will also face a triple planetary crisis that threatens food sources and results in a reduction in funds for achieving the SDGs. Therefore, pandemic recovery is a means of accelerating the Green Economy transformation. And the backbone of Green Economy transformation is Low Carbon Development and Climate Resilient Development.

Suharso explained that the Green Economy aims to achieve net zero emissions in 2060 or sooner, GDP growth of 6.1-6.5 percent per year until 2050 and is expected to be able to create 1.8 million green jobs in 2030.

"Real action from all of us and cooperation amongs parties is needed for acceleration," said Suharso. "The President gave directions that the SDGs targets should be achieved even though we are facing a pandemic."

At the 2022 SDGs Annual Conference, youth were also present. They shared inspiration and experiences in taking real action to achieve SDGs. They conveyed their respective breakthroughs in three discussion chambers, namely the Youth Actions Chamber, the Inclusion Chamber, and the Circular Economy Chamber.

In the Circular Economy Chamber, for example, there is Rafa Jafar, the founder of EWasteRJ who elevates people's lifestyles related to electronic waste. The habit of using electronic devices is that when they are damaged, it is easier and cheaper to buy new ones than to repair old ones.

"Imagine, how many people do it and this is our lifestyle now," said Rafa Jafar. "Buy, break, throw away. That's the cycle."

While electronic waste is classified as B3 or hazardous and toxic materials that require different handling. Up to now, EWasteRJ has collected more than 10 tons of e-waste and sent it to companies certified to recycle e-waste.

In the Youth Actions Chamber, there is Raden Fabian Mochamad Hasanudin, a representative from a university who is also the Campus Ambassador from Padjadjaran University. He conveyed four things that have been done to achieve the SDGs in campus. 

First, all for one and one for all. This program, according to Fabian, relates to the quality of education where no one is left behind. Second, we are here to hear. This program deals with mental health. "This is important to study, especially on campus where almost all students experience a quarter life crisis. It could be stressful because of the world of lectures or other issues," he said.

Third, action for pollution. In this program, Fabian said, the SDGs campus ambassadors are willing to create a safe, comfortable, peaceful and friendly campus environment at Universitas Padjadjaran. "We want to preserve the cool Jatinangor area," he said. Fourth, honor above humanity which targets the prevention of sexual violence.

Then in the Inclusion Chamber, there is Adhitya Herwin Dwiputra, an agricultural scholar from Gadjah Mada University. For seven years, he has built the Aku Petani Indonesia movement which targets the younger generation to become millennial farmers, food security guards with sustainable agriculture. "A strategy is needed to positively brand agriculture and invite young people to get involved and contribute," said Adhitya.

At first, Adhitya formulated how to introduce agriculture to elementary, junior high, high school and university students. "We are looking for the best form of curriculum," he said. For elementary and junior high school students, an introduction to agricultural material is sufficient with a simple example. Meanwhile, for high school and university students, the curriculum emphasizes techniques, technology, and benefits. Now, Aku Petani Indonesia academy already has the right curriculum for all fields.