This year, the Foundations Platform F20 and its dedicated Indonesian partners The Habibie Center, Bina Swadaya Foundation, Wahid Foundation, Yayasan Dharma Bhakti Astra (YDBA) Foundation and Filantropi Indonesia called for climate action by bringing together high-level representatives from politics, academia, businesses, philanthropy and civil society. With more than 800 people joining virtually and about 400 attending this year’s F20 Climate Solutions Forum on site, the two days event held back to back with The Good Times Summit in Jakarta (Sept. 7-8) was a true success. The need for more cooperation on climate and energy on all levels and for more just energy transition partnerships is more important than ever.
Renewable Energy and Shifting the Trillions: Making the transition to a net zero world a reality
Under the headline “Renewable Energy and Shifting the Trillions: Making the transition to a net zero world a reality” a wide range of high-level experts proposed and discussed solutions on how to forge a global response to the climate and energy crises in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The interactive programme encompassed high-level keynotes and panel discussions focusing on renewable energy as well as the crucial question on how to finance a Just Energy Transition.
The pivotal role of climate and energy partnerships (Just Energy Transition Partnerships) for an inclusive and social compatible global energy transition was particularly emphasised by panellists including Fabby Tumiwa, (Executive Director, Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR)), Naila Farouky (CEO & Executive Director, Arab Foundations Forum), Sven Teske (Associate Professor and Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney), Mentari Pujantoro (Project Officer Energy Transition (Southeast and East Asia), Agora Energiewende), and Yuri Okubo (Senior Researcher, Renewable Energy Institute).
In a world of deep fragmentation and polarisation, it is more important than ever to amplify strong voices and finding consensus on core issues to climate. Something that Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs of Indonesia, also emphasised in his opening speech at the first event day. Minister Luhut also highlighted the unprecedented role of Indonesia in hosting this year’s G20 Summit in Bali in November. Likewise, Mr. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation, clearly seconded the need for partnerships and the important role of foundations as the bridge builder for functioning societies. Mr. Flasbarth also provided a rather positive outlook on trustful collaboration to accelerate bold climate action.
One segment of this year’s high-level event was dedicated to highlight and value the various climate solutions that reside in the philanthropic sector. Therefore, numerous short case studies on how to accelerate climate action, foster storytelling and value the transformative role of philanthropy were given a stage.
F20 also presented its list of concrete recommendations to the G20 Heads of State. These recommendations are a key component of the F20 advocacy activities in which the philanthropic climate platform calls upon governments to take bold climate action, ramp up renewables and adopt resilience, adaptation, loss & damage and mitigation measures in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The second day shed light on the key role of innovation and new business paradigms with a special focus on circular economy and sustainable impact presented by representatives of the very vibrant Indonesian start-up scene. The Good Times Summit is a hybrid start-up and innovation summit for young entrepreneurs and changemakers with special focus on themes such as sustainable impact and green and digital transformation. With Germany holding this year’s G7 Presidency and Indonesia hosting the G20 summit in Bali, major emphasis was put on the G20 presidency aiming for a global audience. In this regard, all G20 countries were highly welcome to actively participate in the discussions. The Good Times Summit generally convenes in a hybrid format with multiple locations underscoring the considerable reach of the start-up scene across Indonesia and the world. Speakers this year included key figures of change from the F20 partner network, G20 representatives, start-ups and entrepreneurs as well as investors. To build on the continuity of the established collaboration, “The Good Community” has been launched at the event to strengthen cross-sectoral and cross-border climate collaboration.
What is our Common Ground to protect life on earth in harmony with the planetary boundaries?
Further, the final session of the two-days event underscored the pivotal role of creating an interfaith value based dialogue. It is within this context, that the panel on finding common ground among different societal and spiritual actors aimed to set a positive and solution-oriented impulse by highlighting the importance of engaging in an interfaith dialogue.
Key questions to be addressed included
- How can we foster – also as religious groups – a common space of value based interaction and communication?
- How can we as global society be part of the solution and communicate actively to encourage all stakeholders beyond national contexts to do so?
This year’s F20 Climate Solutions Forum clearly demonstrated Indonesia’s key role in accelerating a global response on the current climate and energy emergencies as the world’s biggest challenges. By convening different stakeholders from all over the globe, the F20 Climate Solutions facilitated cross-sectoral exchange and created opportunities to join forces, align policies and approaches for practical cooperation on climate action.
The Indonesian G20 Presidency is of special global momentum to accelerate global climate action. F20 will continue creating the much-needed space for further concerted climate action and hope that you will join us in this journey.
The F20 Climate Solutions Forum is the annual flagship event and takes placed prior to the G20 Summit in the respective host country. The high-level gathering convenes key stakeholders from business, politics, science and civil society together around a highly dense and stimulating programme which provides opportunity to exchange perspectives, find synergies and strengthen cooperation to multiply our efforts in responding to the climate crisis. This year’s hybrid event took place at the Gedung Agro Plaza Function Hall in Jakarta and can be rewatched on YouTube.
