"A world that is 3 degrees Celsius warmer will hurt all of us. We will all suffer, and the damage cannot be reversed. We can still act now. This is the small window we have left until 2030," Dr. Dino Patti Djalal told nearly 10,000 participants at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Saturday (1 August).
The founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) opened the Indonesia Net-Zero Summit (INZS) 2026 with that warning. The forum brought together more than 130 partners and 60 speakers. It carried the theme "It's Time to Deliver!", a title that places action above promises and implementation above commitment.
A Global Deadlock Is Narrowing the Window
Dino's warning was echoed by Liu Zhenmin, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, who spoke on the same stage. He argued that the window to act before 2030 is shrinking because global climate governance has reached a deadlock.
According to Liu, progress is being held back by geopolitical rivalry, a leadership vacuum created as some developed countries retreat from multilateralism, and the double burden faced by developing nations. These countries must address the impacts of climate change while continuing to pursue economic growth.
Liu cited projections from Wood Mackenzie, which estimate that efforts to fragment green energy supply chains could add US$6 trillion to the global energy transition. That would increase overall transition costs by around 20 percent.
He also noted that the United States has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement twice. According to Dino, those decisions have harmed the international community, including Indonesia. They have forced other countries to shoulder a greater share of emissions reductions while the United States resumed promoting coal use.
Despite those challenges, Liu remained optimistic. He noted that more than 150 countries remain committed to the Paris Agreement. Nearly 150 countries have also submitted updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including Indonesia.
Liu concluded by calling on the global community to uphold multilateralism and strengthen political trust. He urged countries to focus on concrete implementation based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
He also emphasized the need to accelerate technological innovation and green finance, while rejecting unilateralism and trade barriers.
Nature as Indonesia's Diplomatic Leverage
Amid this leadership vacuum, Indonesia argues that it has a strategic advantage. Ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026, Dino Patti Djalal said Indonesia's tropical forests, peatlands, and marine ecosystems provide the country with "considerable leverage" to strengthen international cooperation.
That claim, however, comes with unresolved challenges. Indonesia remains one of the world's largest producers and consumers of coal.
As a result, the credibility of its leadership ambitions depends on its ability to align international commitments with domestic realities. This includes gradually reducing coal use while accelerating the transition to renewable energy.
Deputy Minister of Environment Diaz Faisal Malik Hendropriyono emphasized that international engagement is essential to "close the climate finance gap." He pointed to the G20 and BRICS as key platforms for strengthening cooperation and attracting investment.
Turning Ambition into Policy
Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), Moh. Jumhur Hidayat, sought to translate those leadership ambitions into domestic policy.
"In an increasingly uncertain world, the climate agenda and green transition have become part of Indonesia's national strategy to strengthen energy security, economic competitiveness, and national resilience. The transition to net-zero is not an additional burden. It is how we safeguard our future," he said.
He outlined three policy pillars: mitigation, adaptation, and prosperity. These pillars are translated into five priorities, ranging from strengthening environmental governance to building practical implementation partnerships.
Jumhur also confirmed that the government is preparing its agenda for COP31, including a carbon trading package.
The Often Overlooked Foundation
Retno Marsudi, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Water, highlighted one foundation she believes is often missing from discussions of climate leadership: water.
"Net-zero emissions cannot be achieved without water resilience. Water plays a critical role in both mitigation and adaptation, while aquatic ecosystems form the foundation of climate resilience," she said.
These are the benchmarks that will ultimately be tested before Indonesia takes its seat at the COP31 negotiating table in Antalya this November. They include measurable emissions reductions, tangible protection for communities, and a green transition that generates prosperity.
Indonesia's claim of leveraging its tropical forests, along with the summit's theme, "It's Time to Deliver!", will ultimately have to be demonstrated before the international community.
