By Abbas Nazil
Indonesia has achieved a major breakthrough in climate action through its Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme, backed by a $499.8 million financing commitment from the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The fund was approved under the Results-Based Payments system in recognition of Indonesia’s significant reduction of emissions in the forestry and land-use sectors.
Out of the total amount, $340.7 million has already been disbursed, including $103.8 million provided through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Since the inception of REDD+, Indonesia has rehabilitated more than two million hectares of degraded forest and land, while reducing forest fires by 19.6 percent.
The country’s forests now serve as a net carbon sink, absorbing an estimated -67.2 kilotonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually, playing a crucial role in mitigating climate change impacts across the region.
Hemant Mandal, Director of GCF’s Department for Asia and the Pacific, described the initiative as a testament to Indonesia’s leadership in global climate action and the GCF’s catalytic role in scaling up solutions.
He said the proceeds have been invested in strengthening the REDD+ framework, improving implementation capacity, and promoting decentralized forest governance.
They have also supported the national Social Forestry programme, empowering local communities, improving forest restoration, and aligning REDD+ implementation with Indonesia’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The Indonesian Environment Fund serves as the national fund manager for REDD+, ensuring that GCF resources are efficiently channelled from global commitments to community-based climate projects.
As Indonesia prepares to finalize its 2031–2035 NDCs ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the REDD+ success stands as a model for other developing nations aiming to balance forest conservation with sustainable economic development.
