ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – A series of devastating hydrometeorological disasters throughout 2025 has underscored a stark reality: Indonesia is facing a climate emergency, yet the country still lacks a dedicated Climate Change Law as a binding national legal framework.
The worsening crisis has triggered growing political pressure on the House of Representatives and the government to immediately pass the Climate Change Management Bill, as Indonesia heads toward 2026 amid escalating climate risks.
Vice Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly from the National Mandate Party (PAN), Eddy Soeparno, said 2025 should serve as a national wake-up call on the increasingly severe and widespread impacts of climate change.
“Throughout 2025, we have witnessed extreme climate anomalies. Floods occurred during the dry season, making it difficult to distinguish between rainy and dry periods. The consequences are serious—farmers’ planting and harvesting cycles are disrupted, while coastal fishermen are increasingly threatened by recurring tidal floods,” Eddy said quoted on Monday, December 29, 2025.
He stressed that climate change is no longer merely an environmental issue, but a direct threat to food security, economic resilience, and public safety.
Hydrometeorological Disasters on the Rise
Eddy highlighted the surge in hydrometeorological disasters across the country. Bali experienced major flooding for the first time in nearly six decades, while Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra were hit by flash floods and landslides that claimed thousands of lives.
“These are not isolated incidents. This is a pattern of climate crisis that must be addressed through strong, coordinated state policies,” he said.
Eddy reaffirmed his commitment to accelerating the passage of the Climate Change Management Bill in the Parliament.
He noted that the bill has been included in the 2026 Priority National Legislation Program—a crucial step, but one that must be followed by swift deliberation and enactment.
“Inclusion in the National Legislation Program is not enough. Indonesia urgently needs a Climate Change Law that can be implemented effectively and immediately,” he emphasized.
Urgent Need for a National Legal Framework
According to Eddy, the proposed law would provide a strong legal foundation for Indonesia’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, ensuring policies are coordinated, sustainable, and enforceable.
“The law must clearly affirm the state’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection, and strict law enforcement against all forms of environmental destruction,” said the University of Indonesia political science scholar.
He also stressed the importance of clear coordination between the central and regional governments.
“Climate change response requires tactical, coordinated, and responsive action. Bureaucratic barriers must be eliminated, and regional governments should be encouraged to develop local climate regulations,” he added.
Victims Continue to Mount
Similar calls were echoed by Al Hidayat Samsu, a member of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (DPD), who urged the government and Parliament to prioritize the Climate Change Bill and set a clear legislative timeline.
He noted that December 25, 2025 marked one month since a series of flash floods and landslides struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of December 23, 1,112 people had died and 176 were still missing.
“These are not just statistics. The social wounds are still open. Families have lost homes and livelihoods, and the poorest communities are always the first and worst affected,” Al Hidayat said on Friday, December 26, 2025.
BNPB data show that Indonesia recorded 3,116 disaster events in 2025, the vast majority of them hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, landslides, and extreme weather.
Global Climate Commitments, Domestic Legal Vacuum
Al Hidayat also pointed to a growing policy contradiction. Internationally, Indonesia has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the Paris Agreement and its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner, including at the UN General Assembly and COP29.
President Prabowo Subianto has appointed Hashim Djojohadikusumo as Special Presidential Envoy for Energy and Climate Change to strengthen Indonesia’s climate diplomacy ahead of COP30.
“Yet domestically, Indonesia still lacks a binding Climate Change Law. Commitments are delivered to the international community, but citizens and local governments continue to face the climate crisis without adequate legal protection,” Al Hidayat said.
Calls for a Clear Timeline and Transparency
Al Hidayat emphasized that the DPD has already prioritized the Climate Change Bill within the national legislative agenda. However, under Indonesia’s constitution, legislative authority ultimately rests with the Parliament and the President.
He urged the Parliament to establish an official timeline for deliberation, form a special committee for the bill, and involve the DPD from the outset, given that regional governments are on the front lines of climate impacts.
He also called on the President to instruct relevant ministries to prepare the List of Issues (DIM) and ensure cross-sector coordination to prevent prolonged delays.
“The legislative process must be transparent. Public hearings should be open, draft texts published, and the law must ensure citizen protection, clear financing mechanisms, accountability, and strong safeguards for vulnerable communities and regions,” he concluded. (AT Network)
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