Ecobiz.asia — Indonesia is stepping up its ambition to become a global carbon hub by building a high-integrity forestry carbon market, as the government strengthens international cooperation on climate action and sustainable forest management.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Martin Krause, Director of the Climate Change Division at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), held at the Indonesian Lounge at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) local time.
The meeting focused on expanding Indonesia–UNEP cooperation in forestry and climate issues, including REDD+ development, forestry carbon markets, and innovative financing mechanisms for national parks and conservation areas.
During the meeting, Raja Juli Antoni said Indonesia has made climate action a national priority, particularly in achieving the country’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target and developing a globally credible carbon market ecosystem.
“Indonesia has taken a major step in operationalizing its carbon market through Minister of Forestry Regulation No. 6/2026, as a follow-up to Presidential Regulation No. 110/2025,” the minister said.
According to him, the new regulation establishes a comprehensive framework for forestry carbon trading, covering project development, verification, and transaction mechanisms, while providing greater legal certainty and transparency for investors and international partners.
The minister also highlighted the establishment of a National Park Innovative Financing Task Force under Presidential Decree No. 8/2026. The task force is tasked with developing practical financing solutions for conservation areas, including blended finance schemes and other innovative funding mechanisms.
Indonesia also welcomed UNEP’s initiative to strengthen cooperation on REDD+ implementation. Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that under Presidential Regulation No. 110/2025, the Ministry of Forestry serves as the lead sector for carbon governance in the forestry and land-use sector, including REDD+ implementation.
The government further expressed appreciation for UNEP’s support through the UN-REDD Programme, including the Green for Riau initiative, which is expected to become a model for jurisdictional REDD+ development in other regions across Indonesia.
Beyond carbon markets, the minister underscored the importance of strengthening the representation of tropical forest countries within UNEP. Indonesia, home to one of the world’s largest tropical forest areas, hopes more Indonesian professionals can contribute to UNEP’s environmental and forestry agenda at the global level.
The bilateral meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to deepen strategic cooperation in delivering concrete and innovative solutions for sustainable forest management and global climate action. ***
