RI pushes to apply multilateralism in dealing with environmental issues

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia has been pushing the need to apply a multilateral approach to addressing various global environmental issues affecting countries at the Joint G20 Environment and Climate Ministers Meeting (JECMM) in Nusa Dua, Bali, Wednesday.

The G20 is an international forum of 19 countries and the European Union working together to address big issues. Indonesia holds the presidency of the grouping this year.

Environment and Forests Minister Siti Nurbaya pointed out that various global environmental issues have affected all countries and they are able to solve them independently.

Therefore, each country has the responsibility to maintain environmental multilateralism in order to resolve them, she said while addressing the delegations of G20 member countries.

Environmental multilateralism is the only mechanism in which all countries, regardless of size and prosperity, are on the same footing and receive the same treatment, she said.

Applying multilateralism in dealing with environmental issues will provide a good opportunity for both developed and developing countries to make their voices heard, she noted.

To this end, the Indonesian G20 Presidency, within the G20 JECMM, has also invited several other parties, such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union.

The concerns and interests of these parties are also important. All countries can contribute to the solution in many ways, Nurbaya noted.

The multilateral approach to dealing with environmental problems is also the only method to effectively coordinate the stages of managing the various global challenges.

She urged the member countries of the G20 and the representatives of the other organizations present to strengthen the spirit of mutual respect.

Indeed, multilateralism can only be achieved when there is a sense of trust between countries, the minister explained.

Therefore, it is incumbent on all countries to be part of the solution, to build bridges rather than walls and to promote collective interests rather than their own interests, she said.

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