REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) insists Indonesia's economic growth must go hand in hand with environmental sustainability. He judged both to be equally important and could not be postponed.

“As we pursue economic growth including prosperity and well-being for all Indonesians from Aceh to Papua, it must also be accompanied by our concern for safeguarding our environment and our earth. Therefore, earlier I talked with the Editor-in-Chief of Republika, how do we define prosperity as well-being with sustainabilityt or sustainability. Both are important and both cannot be postponed,” AHY said in the ESG Now Movement during the Climate Talk kick-off event in Sarinah, Jakarta, Sunday (28/9/2025).

According to him, Indonesia has a great responsibility as one of the countries with the world's largest population and the lungs of the world.

“These are not hoaks, these are not fake news, we feel, the world feels this. Therefore, Indonesia must also take responsibility as a great country in terms of population and we are also endowed by God with such beautiful nature, including as the lungs of the world,” he said.

AHY added that maintaining sustainability also means safeguarding water resources as a support for the economy and people's lives. “Water is the source of life. On the wall I wrote no water no life. Without water there is no life,” he stressed.

He explained the three main challenges of water in Indonesia: lack of water during drought, excess water that triggers floods, and polluted water quality. According to him, the issue must be addressed so that economic development does not compromise sustainability.

“The government, academia, the business world, the community, all of us here and of course the media. This five-element approach I think will be very effective in bringing about a more permanent and good solution for all of us,” AHY said.

The Climate Run event was held by Republika in commemoration of its 32nd anniversary. The event is in collaboration with ESG Now Movement, Indonesia Water Warriors, as well as a number of communities concerned with the environment. In addition to raising awareness of the climate crisis, this activity also emphasizes the importance of sustainable lifestyles for urban communities.

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