Indonesia and the Glasgow Pact

With the economy still affected by the pandemic, the Indonesian government seems to be facing a dilemma between choosing cheap coal energy or new renewable energy which is still expensive to implement.

Kompas/Priyombodo

Coal-laden barges cross the Mahakam river, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Monday (8/3/2021).

After nearly two weeks of intense negotiations on everything about global warming, 197 countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) finally agreed to adopt the Glasgow Climate Pact. Despite many restrictions, coal was eventually included in the agreement.

As predicted, talks were tough among the parties who attended in Glasgow, Scotland. Throughout the event, which ran from 31 October to 12 November, the debate was colored by the injustice of rich and poor countries, removing or reducing coal as well as demands for funding commitments and technology transfer from developed countries to developing countries.