Mainstreaming and Integrating Climate Change to Development

I just heard it from one of the Directors of Bappenas (Development Planning Agency). Climate Change (CC) adaptation and mitigation will be mainstreamed and integrated to the development plan. I think that will be a hard work. CC adaptation and mitigation is not just a matter of new infrastructure development. CC requires a change of lifestyle and it is just a small change but a huge change. It might really change the way people live their lives. I think integration of CC into development planning is always positive, but it needs scientific background to move. One cannot just rely on International opinions. Indonesia should know better about its environment and its people better that anyone else. Any strategies implemented for CC adaptation and mitigation should be localized and this is including technology.

I am afraid that government in general only understands CC adaptation and mitigation as side projects of business as usual activities. It will not just be other infrastructure projects. CC should be the basic or the fundamental of development plan. All should be adjusted and targeted to CC adaptation and mitigation. My opinion, so far people’s awareness on CC is still low. Government should be able to interpret CC to day to day impacts so that people easily understand the consequences and move. Besides doing scientific research on the effects or impacts of CC, government should also do more CC impacts campaigns.It is great that we change our selves before trying to change other people. Government should change before trying to change other people. Let’s change. Change is good as long as it is good.