Indonesia Heading for Disaster in 2050
Friday, 16 May, 2008 | 14:30 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Indonesia should reduce its energy consumption or a large disaster will occur in 2050. The use of energy is alleged as the main cause of earth’s temperature rise of 6.4 celcius degree over the last century.

“The year 2050 will be critical ,” said State Minister for the Environment, Rahmat Witoelar in a general lecture on climate change and sustainable development at the Faculty of Social and Political Science (FISIP) University of Indonesia, today.

Rahmat quoted a conclusion from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) saying that the increase of global temperature since the 20th century is caused mainly by the increased concentration of green house gases because of human activity.

He explained that because of the temperature increases, seven large rivers in the world will be dried out, including the Ganges river in India and Yellow River in China.

He added that the access road to Soekarno-Hatta airport will be flooded permanently due to global warming.

To slow the global warming process, Rahmat recommended a ‘green’ lifestyle for Indonesia, by reducing electricity and fuel usage. “I suggest the government and building providers in Jakarta to design skyscrapers that are energy-save friendly,” said Rahmat.

Cheta Nilawaty