Menko Airlangga Urges UK Minister for Climate, Environment, and Energy to Ensure Sustainable Palm Oil Certification Aligns with Best Practices and Fair Testing Regulations

London, INTI - Minister of Economic Affairs Coordination Airlangga Hartarto, during his working visit to the UK, held a meeting with Richard Henry Ronald Benyon (Lord Benyon), the Minister of State for Climate, Environment, and Energy of the United Kingdom in London on Tuesday (30/04). Indonesia pays attention to the proposed UK Law on Comprehensive Testing of Commodities at Risk to Forests, under the UK Environmental Law, which will affect the trade of Indonesia's flagship products such as palm oil. "Comprehensive Testing regulations must not create trade distortions or discriminatory coverage of products and national treatment," emphasized Minister Airlangga. Developing countries have the right to build sustainable multilateral trading systems. Therefore, Minister Airlangga expects the UK Government to adhere to the principles of transparency, non-discrimination, and consistency with multilateral trade regulations.

Minister Richard responded that the UK Government would adopt a partnership approach in implementing comprehensive testing rules for sustainable products by considering the standards and certifications already in place in partner countries, such as the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil system (ISPO) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The UK Government also pays attention to the livelihoods of small farmers working in the palm oil plantation sector. Furthermore, Minister Richard affirmed that the UK, in implementing different rules from the European Union, aims to build a sustainable product supply chain with Indonesia that does not pose a risk to forest conservation.

In the meeting, Minister Airlangga elaborated on Indonesia's progress in controlling greenhouse gas emissions through various measures such as the B40 program, mangrove planting, and accelerating energy transition. Minister Richard was impressed by the explanation and hoped to exchange experiences from Indonesia's progress. As a sign of strong commitment to addressing climate change, Indonesia submitted its Enhanced National Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC Secretariat in September 2022 with an increased emission reduction target from 29% in the First NDC to 31.89% unconditional (without international assistance) in the renewed NDC.

Meanwhile, the conditional (with international assistance) target increased from 41% in the first NDC to 43.20%. The NDC embodies each country's efforts to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Closing the meeting, Minister Airlangga and Minister Richard agreed to continue the FACT (Forest, Agriculture, and Commodity Trade) dialogue as a global forum for informal discussions between Governments and other stakeholders, from producer and consumer countries, involved in the trade of commodities related to tropical forest deforestation. Richard also appreciated Indonesia's role as Co-Chair.

In this meeting, Minister Airlangga was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga, Indonesian Ambassador to the UK Desra Percaya, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso, Deputy of Economic Affairs Edi Pambudi, and Economic Affairs Expert Staff Rizal Edwin Manangsang.