On Thursday, November 28, 2024, Jakarta’s Information and Knowledge Access (JIKA) Talks hosted a significant discussion on sustainable urban development, bringing together leaders, experts, and policymakers under the theme “Empowering Green Cities: Shaping Sustainable Building Futures through Collaboration, Innovation, and Strategic Investment.” The event explored strategies, challenges, and opportunities in advancing green city initiatives, focusing on Jakarta’s journey.

The opening address was delivered by Huey Yee Yoong, Head of Implementation for the UCAP CAI Programme at C40 Cities, who emphasized the necessity of cross-city collaboration to combat climate change effectively. This was followed by a keynote speech from Afan Adriansyah Idris, Assistant for Development and Environment at the Jakarta Provincial Secretariat. He detailed Jakarta’s commitment to sustainability through several initiatives. The city has implemented a green building certification as a prerequisite for specific new building permits, with 48 buildings already certified by IFC, GBCI, and the provincial government. Solar panel installations have also progressed, with 156 public buildings equipped with solar panels, providing a total capacity of 3.69 MW by 2023. The innovative Net Zero Schools project was also highlighted, involving the development of 15 energy-efficient schools designed with green materials, eco-friendly architecture, and renewable energy sources, aiming to cultivate environmentally responsible behavior among students. Jakarta is further strengthening its regulatory framework with a new Governor’s Regulation to promote energy and water efficiency in buildings, targeting vertical housing, commercial spaces, and schools. Afan emphasized retrofitting existing buildings as a low-cost but high-impact strategy, promoting green behavior and enhancing reporting systems to monitor energy and water consumption.

The panel discussions featured insights from global and regional experts. Paul Cartwright, Programme Manager for New Building Efficiency at C40 Cities, presented strategies from the worldwide network of C40 cities to achieve net-zero carbon buildings. He stressed the importance of clear roadmaps with interim targets to decarbonize the building sector by 2050. He highlighted the critical commitments: ensuring new buildings operate at net-zero carbon by 2030, retrofitting existing buildings, and ensuring municipal buildings meet the same standards. Cartwright also underscored the value of policy certainty, which encourages innovation, capacity building, and financial investments in energy efficiency.

Honorine van den Broek d’Obrenan, Senior Research Manager at C40 Cities, discussed the health benefits associated with green buildings. She explained how improved ventilation reduces harmful pollutants, better lighting enhances well-being and productivity, and noise reduction through glazing improves sleep and reduces blood pressure. Honorine emphasized that well-insulated buildings with cool roofs regulate indoor temperatures and provide significant health benefits for vulnerable populations.

Engr. Kennedy Diokno, an Assistant Building Official from the Quezon City Government, shared lessons learned from developing Quezon City’s Green Building Code with support from the C40 UCAP CAI Programme. He highlighted proposed fiscal incentives, such as real property tax credits for green residential buildings and grants for low-income housing. Non-fiscal incentives, such as additional floor area ratio bonuses and recognition programs, were also discussed as effective motivators for green construction.

Kelvin Vergara Tagnipez from IFC APEX Green Cities EAP presented financing strategies for green buildings and cities in Southeast Asia. He outlined investment opportunities in Bangkok, where private sector actions are essential for climate action. Key financing mechanisms, such as Energy-as-a-Service and On-Bill Financing (OBF), were introduced as innovative solutions for funding energy efficiency upgrades without upfront costs. OBF allows customers to repay loans through their utility bills, ensuring cost neutrality by aligning monthly payments with energy savings.

The event concluded with reflections from the panelists, expressing optimism and encouragement for Jakarta’s roadmap toward sustainable urban development. Paul Cartwright highlighted the promise of Jakarta’s green building policies, while Engr. Ken called for continued improvements in energy efficiency and emphasized the value of multi-stakeholder involvement. Honorine praised the collaborative spirit observed throughout the discussions and expressed excitement to see future progress. Kelvin underscored the importance of educating both public and private sectors to accelerate emissions reductions and foster a sustainable future.

A central theme of the talks was the integration of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) concepts, known as “RECP Inside.” RECP is a continuous process that improves natural resource use efficiency—materials, water, and energy—while reducing waste and emissions. This enhances the well-being of workers, consumers, and communities, ultimately enabling more productive use of resources. The six key steps for implementing RECP are:

1. Getting Started: Establishing initial goals and securing management commitment.
2. Analyzing Process Steps: Identifying inefficiencies in resource use.
3. Generating Cleaner Production Options: Brainstorming practical solutions for improvement.
4. Selecting Cleaner Production Options: Evaluating the feasibility of proposed solutions.
5. Implementing Cleaner Production Options: Applying selected solutions within the system.
6. Maintaining Cleaner Production: Ensuring continuous improvement through monitoring and feedback.

Paul Cartwright’s emphasis on clear roadmaps and systematic decarbonization aligns closely with RECP’s principles, showcasing the global applicability of this resource-efficient approach.

         Source Image : Asiaskop

The Indonesia Cleaner Production Center (ICPC) also supports Jakarta’s green city initiatives by promoting Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) practices. As a key driver of sustainable industrial development in Indonesia, ICPC collaborates with government agencies, industries, and international partners to integrate RECP principles into urban planning and building design. Through training, capacity building, and pilot projects, ICPC helps industries and municipalities optimize resource use, reduce waste, and enhance energy efficiency—complementing Jakarta’s efforts to achieve its green building goals and contributing to the broader vision of resilient, eco-friendly urban development. 

A notable example of RECP’s success is the Hotel Ibis Malioboro Yogyakarta, which achieved significant energy savings through the implementation of various RECP options, including Good Housekeeping (GHK), Input Material Change (IMC), Better Process Control (BPC), and Technology Change (TC). Energy consumption decreased from 2,058,784 kWh in 2016 to 1,950,717 kWh in 2017 and 1,955,484 kWh in 2018. This success underscores the impact of comprehensive energy management and process improvements in achieving sustainability goals.

JIKA Talks served as a powerful reminder of the role collaboration, innovation, and strategic investment play in shaping sustainable cities. With its ambitious initiatives and commitment to inclusivity, Jakarta is poised to lead the way in building a resilient and environmentally friendly urban future.

Author: Monica Evanty P

Editor: Amelia Agusni