The issue of environmental damage has become a world-wide hot potato, including in Indonesia. The environmental damage is caused by the lack of conservation of the environment that can compensate for the advances in science and technology, as well as the rapid industrialization process. This environmental damage is also a major cause of climate change. This was conveyed by Law Enforcement Analyst at the Bekasi Regency Environmental Office Nugraha Syarif Husein, in his conversation with high school students/equivalent in Indonesia during the Eco Brilliant Ideas National Seminar on October 10, 2019.
Husein said, “Although the impact of environmental damage can be felt anywhere, many people are skeptical of the effects of climate change. For example the United States who withdrew from the Paris Agreement during the Trump administration. Although America itself is the second-largest polluter in the world, Trump refuses to acknowledge the existence of climate change itself.”
Besides Husein, the EBI national seminar was also attended by Amanda Katili Niode, manager of the Indonesia Climate Reality Project. According to Amanda, climate change has not only affected a portion of the earth’s ecosystems but has disrupted the entire earth system.
“When the Earth is exposed to direct solar energy due to an increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, only a small amount of that energy is reflected. The rest is absorbed by the Earth and causes climate change. When there is a large amount of foreign energy, the balance of the earth system will be disrupted. This is what causes the increase in earth’s temperature “, Amanda added.
In their discussions with students, Husein and Amanda claimed that they were relieved to see the young people they met had knowledge and awareness of the urgency to act in the fight against climate change. Especially when more and more scholars and public deny the existence of climate change itself.
Indonesia, with its demographic bonus greatly impacts climate change itself. On the one hand, if young Indonesians are not taught the importance of balancing nature conservation with advances in science and technology, as well as the rapid process of industrialization, this demographic bonus itself will exacerbate climate change. On the other hand, if Indonesia’s young population realizes the importance of this, then the creative and innovative ideas of this young population can be a solution for climate change.