Low Carbon Development (LCD) is a new development paradigm in Indonesia for maintaining economic and social growth through low-emission development initiatives and minimizing over-exploitation of natural resources. LCD activities are manifested through all development sectors for the sustainability of planet Earth to avoid climate change impacts caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

Indonesia’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions is stated in its Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat in July 2021. Indonesia has committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 29% unconditionally and 41% conditionally (with international support) against a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario by 2030. As stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 98/2021, the implementation of emission reductions with a national baseline of 2,869 million tons of CO2e can be conducted nationally, sub-nationally and cross-sectorally.

Coastal wetland ecosystems, especially mangroves, have great potential as a nature-based climate solution (NbCS). In collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenkomarves), the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) and its autonomous body the Indonesian Academy of Young Scientists (ALMI), the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) will highlight this issue through a webinar entitled Coastal Zone Rehabilitation for Low Carbon Development. This webinar is supported by Conservation International and the German Government’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) as partners of the Government of Indonesia (Bappenas) in helping the country achieve its LCD objectives.