The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI), through the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP), is initiating the World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development (WPFSD). This is DPR’s second initiative to embrace parliaments of friendly countries’ to exchange views on global issues, including the 2030 agenda. 

The main theme of the forum, which will be held in Bali on 12-13 September 2018, would be “Partnership Towards Sustainable Energy for All”. 

“We invited tens of countries to participate in the event to discuss the idea of SDGs, especially the seventh goal on ensuring access to renewable and clean energy,” said Vice Speaker FadliZonduring Embassy Briefing at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on 25 July 2018. 

He said that reliable energy is veryvital and essential to billions of people around the world, and we need a sustainable energy policy. Given that 70 percent of global energy needs are still supplied by fossil energy, such as oil, natural gas, and coal that number is increasingly limited.

“We cannot live without sustainable energy. Therefore, we are expecting a constructive dialogue in the forum,” said the Vice Speaker for Politics and Security. 

The Gerindra Party politician added that DPR as a representation of the people, has a key role in shaping the government policies through laws and budgeting function. Hence, supports from parliaments are needed to urge governments of respective countries to be more concerned about the energy sector. 

Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, Chairperson of the BKSAP, echoed that statement. She said energy often became a sensitive issue in the global stability and security. Energy, according to her, would be affecting every aspect of human life and productivity around the world. 

“As weknow, our economic growth is always influenced by world oil price fluctuationthus we have to put a high priority overthe sustainable energy,” she said. 

The Democratic Party politician added that reliable and renewable energy is in line with the goal number 7 of the SDGs aimed at ensuring access to affordable, sustainable, and modern energy for all human beings. (ann/sf-mut)