EduAsiaNews, Antalya — Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki has stressed that accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources must go hand in hand with efforts to protect nature and biodiversity.
He made the remarks while opening a dialogue session titled “Renewable Energy in a Changing Climate: Balancing Energy Transition and Nature Conservation” at the Indonesia Pavilion during the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31 UNFCCC) on Wednesday (Nov. 11).
“The climate crisis and biodiversity loss are not separate challenges. They are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. We cannot deliver sustainable climate solutions if nature protection is treated as an afterthought,” Rohmat said.
According to the deputy minister, renewable energy is an essential part of global efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, its development still requires planning that takes environmental conditions into account. The success of the energy transition, therefore, depends not only on the pace of development but also on how it is carried out while safeguarding ecosystems.
Indonesia has substantial geothermal energy potential due to its volcanic geography. Geothermal energy has the advantage of providing a stable electricity supply. However, some of this potential is located in landscapes with important ecological functions, including forest areas, wildlife habitats and river basins.
“The need for clean energy does not diminish our responsibility to protect biodiversity. Instead, this challenge should encourage the development of better science, technology and policies so that the energy transition and conservation can advance hand in hand,” he stressed.
Rohmat underscored the importance of a science-based approach to planning and developing renewable energy. Every development plan must take ecological conditions into account from the outset, prioritize the prevention of environmental impacts, minimize the risk of damage, and ensure ecosystem restoration and continuous monitoring.
Renewable energy development also requires cross-sector cooperation involving the government, conservation area managers, academics, businesses and local communities. Such collaboration is essential to ensure that energy development delivers economic and social benefits without compromising the ecological functions of an area.
During the dialogue, Rohmat invited participants to discuss various approaches to developing renewable energy in harmony with nature conservation, including the application of technology, science-based planning and lessons learned from geothermal development in Indonesia and other countries.
The session featured Nandang Prihadi, secretary of the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Forestry; Dian Purbasari, special envoy of Barito Renewable Energy; and Rachel Asante, senior program coordinator at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The speakers discussed opportunities for cooperation and approaches to strengthening synergies between renewable energy development and biodiversity protection.
Rohmat expressed hope that the dialogue would foster a shared understanding and open up opportunities for more concrete collaboration between the energy and conservation sectors, ensuring that the energy transition is implemented responsibly and sustainably.
“We must move beyond the notion that climate ambition and nature protection have to compete with each other. The quality of the energy transition should be measured not only by the emissions reduced, but also by the ecosystems preserved and the extent to which communities are empowered,” the deputy minister concluded.
Media contact: Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and International Cooperation, Ministry of Forestry.
