​On 22 September 2016, Indonesia participated in the International Conference on Sustainable Development (IC-SD) at Columbia University in the City of New York.

The aim of the conference is to identify and share practical, evidence-based solutions that can support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s conference theme is Moving Forward: The SDGs in Practice. The ICSD provides a unique opportunity to bring together stakeholders from government, academia, the United Nations, international agencies, NGOs, and grassroots organizers to share practical solutions towards the achievement of more sustainable and inclusive societies.
 
The Office of the President's Special Envoy for Climate Change organized an Indonesia Panel titled “Climate Actions and Sustainable Development Goals at the Local Level in Indonesia.”

The objective of the panel was to convey Indonesia’s vision of sustainable development and climate change actions to the international communities.
 
Rachmat Witoelar, President's Special Envoy for Climate Change Control, said that Indonesia is now in the process of moving towards low-carbon development. The impact of climate change is already affecting many sectors in Indonesia, among others, food security, disaster, and health. Hence, Indonesia must integrate climate change actions into its mid-term and long-term development plan.
 
Representatives from the private sector stated that investing in environmentally friendly business and low-carbon future is quite interesting and has profit potential. There are companies in Indonesia who have taken real action in the implementation of landscape management, for example with palm sugar and biodiesel from palm oil.
 
In addition, representatives of academia also expressed the importance of local research center run by universities or NGOs to encourage innovation and advance technology in climate change action.
 
As we know, in 2015 the world has two agreements that have become a strong basis for sustainable development. The first is the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the second is the Paris Agreement Treaty of Paris that sets climate change actions by the countries in the world. Indonesia as a country that is active in international climate change negotiations, has expressed its national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29% based on Business as Usual in 2030, and 41% with international cooperation.
 
Dr. Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir, Senior Advisor for Climate Change to the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, chaired  the Indonesia Panel, held at the Faculty House of Columbia University.

The following are speakers featured in the Indonesia Panel, along with their abstracts and slides presented:

Prof.  Rachmat Witoelar, President's Special Envoy for Climate Change
Change Needed to Achieve Indonesia’s Vision – Abstract and Talking Points

Mr. Hashim Djojohadikusumo, CEO Arsari Group
Rebuild Program – Abstract and Slides

Mr. Paulus Tjakrawan, Chair, Indonesia Biofuels Producer Association 
Indonesia Biodiesel Program, More Sustainable – Abstract and Slides
 
Dr. Jatna Supriatna, Head of Research Center for Climate Change, University of Indonesia 
Local Academic & Non-Government Institutions as Sustainable Development Center of Excellence – Abstract and Slides
 
More than 1000 people attended the International Conference on Sustainable Development 2016, coming from many countries all over the world and representing professionals from the private sector, academia, government, and civil society, along with students from the world’s top universities.

The Office of the President's Special Envoy for Climate Change Control, The Climate Reality Project Indonesia and Citra Kartini Indonesia organized a talk show on “Women and Climate Change.” This event was held on Thursday, 15 September 2016 at the Jakarta Convention Center and is part of the Indonesia Women Expo 2016.
 
Miranti Serad, one of the founders of Citra Kartini Indonesia, a women empowerment organization, explained that "The Indonesia Women Expo 2016 seeks to increase the awareness among women about the importance of their involvement in mitigation and adaptation to climate change for survival with efforts carried out jointly at the individual, community or workplace levels.”
 
In his opening remarks, Rachmat Witoelar, the President's Special Envoy for Climate Change stated that Indonesia should immediately change its development paradigm towards low-carbon development. "The impacts of climate change in Indonesia are becoming apparent. Current climate change-related disasters occur more frequently, such as floods, drought, crop failure, and decreased marine products. Climate change is caused by human activities, but the good news is, there is a solution. If people change their behaviors and lifestyle to be more environmentally friendly, then carbon emissions can be reduced. Women as the primary agent of change have a major role, especially in educating families and communities to undertake concrete actions."
 
Amanda Katili Niode, Manager of The Climate Reality Project Indonesia, believed that this event is very important to involve women in Indonesia on the issue of climate change. They are a very strategic target audience to convey the message of climate change, leading to a mental change in the family and society.
 
This statement is supported by Suzy Hutomo, a climate leader and the Executive Chairwoman of The Body Shop Indonesia that has implemented a low-carbon lifestyle both in the family and her company. An example is her discipline in garbage sorting and trying to minimize her waste by zero to landfill because if not treated properly waste will emit high green house gases. She also did a real action by implementing  solar electric system at home.
 
Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusomo, a climate leader and a Member of the Commission 8 of the Indonesian House of Representatives that deals with Religion, Social Affairs, and the Empowerment of Women, states that women in Indonesia should be fully engaged in supporting the development of creative economy that spawned innovations so that even with limited funding people can mobilize low carbon and sustainable activities.
 
According to Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir, an anthropologist and the Senior Advisor of the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, women have been exploited and their rights violated. Human and environment depend on each other. Women give birth to life, through their wombs, therefore the best thing that can be done in the framework of climate change adaptation and mitigation is to empower women as much as possible. "Because empowering women means  preserving life."
 
Murni Titi Resdiana, a climate leader who is also the Assistant to the President’s Special Envoy for Climate Change expertly moderated the event with 150 enthusiastic attendees, including 20 Indonesia climate leaders,