At the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, Indonesia and Japan announced plans to enhance their cooperation on forest-based carbon projects. This partnership is part of a broader effort to combat climate change, restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
The collaboration is facilitated through the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), which seeks to produce high-quality carbon credits under international climate agreements. The initiative aligns with Indonesia’s ambitious strategy to restore 12 million hectares of degraded land and curb deforestation across 50 million hectares. Additionally, Indonesia aims to integrate carbon projects with social forestry programs covering 8.3 million hectares and develop 1.4 million hectares of customary forests.
Discussions between Indonesia’s Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki and Japan’s Environment Deputy Minister Hiroshi Ono highlighted the potential of including peatlands and mangrove ecosystems in the carbon projects. Indonesia is looking to attract Japanese investment to support these projects, which would provide reliable carbon credits while promoting environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods.
For Japan, the partnership is a strategic move towards meeting its goal of obtaining carbon credits equivalent to 100 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2030. This collaboration not only helps Japan progress towards its environmental targets but also aids Indonesia in advancing its ecosystem restoration objectives.