B4E Talks End With a Pledge

B4E Talks End With a Pledge of Support for Green Growth

Hatta Rajasa, right, the coordinating minister for the economy, receiving the declaration from the chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Suryo Bambang Sulisto. (Antara Photo)

April 30, 2011 - The government and business players on Friday declared their commitment to sustainable economic development and ending deforestation by 2020.

The declaration, adopted at the conclusion of the Business for the Environment (B4E) summit in Jakarta, states the common efforts by the government and the business community to support each other in developing a low-carbon, green economy for sustainable development.

“Tackling climate change and achieving economic development goals represent a task so great that no one can resolve this alone,” Hatta Rajasa, the coordinating minister for the economy, said in his speech at the summit. “We need a higher level of collaboration than ever. The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of action.”

He said economic development programs sometimes did not take into account the impact on the environment, but the government had realized that pursuing a green economy was a win-win solution to balance environmental and economic development. “

Indonesia is in its expansionary phase,” Hatta said. {continued}