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`Quit coal usage' to reduce the effects of climate change
Dozens of Greenpeace Indonesia campaigners held a peaceful rally against coal usage, which contributes significantly to climate change, on the sidelines of the 7th meeting of ASEAN's Coal Council, in Kuta, on Tuesday
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ozens of Greenpeace Indonesia campaigners held a peaceful rally against coal usage, which contributes significantly to climate change, on the sidelines of the 7th meeting of ASEAN's Coal Council, in Kuta, on Tuesday.
"ASEAN has always been dependent on using coal *for power plants*. However, we all know that the use of natural resources fastens the impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods and famine - as a result of the depletion of the natural environment - which threatens the livelihood of millions," said Arif Fiyanto, a climate change campaigner from Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
"Do you recall how many disasters, like floods in places that do not have a history of them occurred in the country in 2008 and in the first semester of 2009? Indonesia must realize that we are already suffering the effects of climate change," Arif told The Jakarta Post.
He further said that coal mining in Kalimantan, Cilacap and West Java, for example, had caused health problems including respiratory and lung diseases among local residents.
"Around 80 percent of people liv The ADB estimated the Southeast Asian region would suffer losses of up to 7 percent to its GDP by end of this century due to climate change. The study also estimated that countries around the world had already incurred losses of more than 356 billion euros as a result of climate change.
"Therefore, we strongly urge the meeting delegates to discuss power supply alternatives such as switching from coal to eco-friendly and renewable resources, like geothermal energy, solar and micro hydro, instead of making agreements to boost the mineral-based coal industry," he said, adding that Indonesia is world largest geothermal producer with 9.5 gig watts (GW) of potential energy up to 2025.
Arid further said the organization had urged the Indonesian government to develop laws and regulations to support and encourage investment in the renewable resources industry.
"Considering that Indonesia is the second-largest coal producer - after Australia - and a massive user, I think the government must start to think about how to reduce the impacts of coal on the environment," he added.
Greenpeace plans to hold additional campaign in Java in the coming months.
