Indonesia is pushing hard to cement its position as a regional and global leader in carbon governance. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with New Zealand’s Minister of Climate Change, Simon Watts, marking a significant commitment toward strengthening carbon market development and climate cooperation.
The partnership highlights Indonesia’s accelerating climate agenda—one focused on transparency, market readiness, and scaling high-value carbon transactions. With COP30 serving as a momentum-setting platform, Jakarta’s diplomacy demonstrates a clear intent: turning commitments into measurable climate outcomes.
Strengthening Carbon Governance Through Strategic Partnerships
The newly signed LoI establishes a collaborative framework for both countries to share knowledge, align regulatory approaches, and enhance confidence in cross-border carbon transactions. According to Minister Nurofiq, New Zealand’s geographical proximity and climate priorities make the collaboration both practical and mutually beneficial.
Indonesia is currently operationalizing a comprehensive carbon governance ecosystem—including domestic regulations, emissions monitoring systems, and a national carbon exchange. By bringing New Zealand into this strategy, Indonesia aims to accelerate technical alignment and market robustness.
This cooperation also creates opportunities for:
- Knowledge exchange on emissions accounting and verification
- Policy harmonization for future cross-border trading
- Investor confidence building for large-scale mitigation projects
Indonesia’s Roadmap: Turning Global Pledges Into Measurable Action
Minister Nurofiq reaffirmed Indonesia’s intention to transform international climate commitments into concrete, on-the-ground progress. A major step in this direction is Indonesia’s submission of the Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (ENDC)—a declaration of stronger ambition on both mitigation and adaptation fronts.
The ENDC updates include:
- Higher emission reduction targets
- Expanded sectoral coverage, including forestry, energy, transport, and waste
- Integration of carbon market mechanisms to drive efficiency
- Stronger monitoring and reporting frameworks
This strengthened commitment signals Indonesia’s readiness not just to participate in global climate mechanisms, but to help shape them.
A Busy Diplomatic Agenda: Expanding Global Climate Alliances
COP30 became a platform for Indonesia to deepen ties with a wide range of countries. Beyond New Zealand, Indonesia engaged with Finland, China, Germany, Austria, the UK, Japan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, Brazil, and Norway.
These meetings focus on:
- Technology cooperation
- Forestry and land management partnerships
- Opportunities in carbon credit generation and purchasing
- Support for high-integrity climate finance
This multilateral momentum shows Indonesia’s intent to diversify partnerships and secure high-quality carbon market opportunities.
Indonesia Targets Rp16 Trillion in Carbon Market Transactions at COP30
One of Indonesia’s most ambitious goals during COP30 is to reach transactions totaling 90 million tons of CO₂, valued at approximately Rp16 trillion (US$956.9 million).
To enable this, Indonesia is hosting Seller Meet Buyer sessions at its national pavilion. These curated meetings bring together:
- Verified carbon credit sellers
- International buyers
- Climate finance investors
- Developers of nature-based and industrial projects
By providing a direct negotiation space, Indonesia aims to accelerate deals while showcasing the country’s high-quality carbon credit potential, ranging from forest conservation to renewable energy.
Why This Matters: Indonesia’s Position in the Future Carbon Economy
Indonesia’s vast natural resources—forests, mangroves, oceans, and peatlands—make it one of the world’s most carbon-rich nations. Establishing a strong carbon governance framework positions the country as:
- A leading supplier of nature-based carbon credits
- A regional hub for standardized carbon trading
- A strategic partner for countries needing high-integrity offsets
Combining strong policy, international collaboration, and market readiness builds a credible foundation for long-term climate finance growth.
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