Indonesiantalk.com — Indonesia ASRI in a Changing World
By: Stephanus SBR (Social Observer)
At a time when the world appears to be wavering in its commitment to the environment, Indonesia stands at a crossroads of its own history.
When the United States chooses to loosen emissions control regulations—a decision that may seem domestic in nature—the ripple effects travel far beyond its borders.
They cross oceans, touch our coastlines, seep into our rice fields, and quietly reshape the rhythm of our daily lives.
Indonesia is not merely an observer.
As an archipelagic nation, we exist through the delicate balance of nature. The sea is our bloodstream, forests are our lungs, and the land is our source of life. When global emissions rise, we cannot afford the luxury of neutrality. We are among the first to feel the consequences.
Rising sea levels are no longer academic projections—they are real threats to our coastal cities. Extreme weather is no longer an anomaly—it has become the new normal. Forest fires, crop failures, and food insecurity are no longer distant warnings; they are present realities of a changing climate.
Ironically, Indonesia’s historical contribution to global emissions remains relatively small compared to industrialized nations. Yet the burden we carry is disproportionately large.
It is at this juncture that national leadership becomes crucial.
President Prabowo Subianto appears to read this moment not merely as an environmental issue, but as part of a broader civilizational agenda. Through the idea of the Indonesia ASRI Movement—safe, healthy, clean, and beautiful—the government seeks to shift the paradigm: from passive response to active movement.
Not merely policy, but habit.
In this approach, the state does not stand alone. It calls upon all elements of society—local governments, schools, communities—to begin with simple acts: maintaining cleanliness, building order, and cultivating environmental beauty.
There is something compelling in the President’s emphasis on the word “resik”—cleanliness that transcends the physical, extending into social order and discipline. A simple concept, yet when practiced collectively, it holds transformative power.
Imagine hundreds of thousands of schools, offices, and communities dedicating just 10 to 15 minutes each morning to collective cleaning. Over time, this is no longer a small act—it becomes a national movement capable of reshaping the face of the country.
Indonesia ASRI does not stop at symbolism.
Behind it lie concrete steps, including the development of 34 waste-to-energy projects across major cities. This is not only a response to the looming waste crisis projected to reach a critical point by 2028, but also a transition toward a more sustainable economic model.
Waste, in the old paradigm, marks the end of consumption. In the new paradigm, it becomes the beginning of energy.
Similarly, the idea of “roof revitalization”—which may sound simple, even trivial—carries a deeper message: aesthetics are part of progress. A beautiful environment is not a luxury, but a fundamental right of citizens.
Rust, as the President metaphorically puts it, is a symbol of degeneration.
And Indonesia must not appear rusted.
In a world that seems to be retreating from climate commitments, Indonesia is instead challenged to move forward. We possess significant capital: vast tropical forests, immense renewable energy potential, and the opportunity to become a hub for the global green industry.
Yet none of this will matter without one essential element: collective awareness.
Climate change is not an ideological issue. It does not belong to the left or the right. It is a matter of survival. And survival is not built on rhetoric, but on consistency.
In this context, Indonesia ASRI is not merely a government program. It is a reflection of a national choice: whether we remain victims of global change, or become actors who shape the future.
The world may change its course.
But Indonesia must not lose its direction.
Because for us, protecting the environment is not merely a policy.
It is how we safeguard our homeland—in the most literal sense.
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