SEAFOAM is sailing on a sea of opportunities

Climateworks Centre’s SEAFOAM program has been working with the Indonesian government to support their climate ambition through ocean-based mitigation. In September 2023, Climateworks published a report that demonstrates the value and impact of Indonesia’s ocean-based climate mitigation. The report highlights the importance of establishing and clearly defining a sixth sector for 'Ocean Use and Ocean Change' in Indonesia’s upcoming nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – a step not taken by any other country to date.

While the ocean is vulnerable to the impacts of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, it also holds the potential to contribute significantly to the climate goals of Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Indonesia, as an archipelagic nation, heavily relies on the ocean to support strategic industries, including fisheries, domestic freight and passenger transport. The ocean significantly supports the livelihoods and cultural connections of local coastal communities.

Recognising the ocean-climate interrelatedness is the first step towards a sustainable blue economy that fosters biodiversity, lives and livelihoods, culture, income generation and industry, conservation and innovation, as well as climate mitigation.

The Climateworks program is supported by a steering committee made up of scientists from IPB University, government representatives, project advisors, and think tank representatives who inform the policy-makers who are driving Indonesia’s NDC.

“Indonesia's commitment to the NDCs, as outlined under the Paris Agreement, reflects the nation's determination to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the impacts of climate change," says Dr Luky Adrianto, Chair of SEAFOAM Indonesian Stakeholder Steering Group and Professor at the Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University.

Our seas and coastal ecosystems possess a remarkable ability to store vast amounts of carbon, making them indispensable allies in our battle against rising greenhouse gas concentrations.”

The SEAFOAM report contributes to the conversation on ocean-based climate mitigation and provides insights into the interplay between climate action, ocean protection and the broader sustainable development goals (SDGs). It identifies opportunities across three highly interconnected sectors: blue nature-based solutions, maritime industry and infrastructure, and offshore renewable energy. Together, these three areas of work concentrate substantial opportunities for the advancement of the Paris-aligned climate mitigation goals.

Ocean expert Prof Alex Retraubun, Chair of the Indonesian Association of Oceanologists in Moluccas Region, says, “I thank the authors of this report for doing the analysis and highlighting the potential of my home seas and blue carbon ecosystems in oceanic mitigation. I hope this report inspires local stakeholders in this region to collectively harness the vast potential of our ocean, safeguard and revive the marvels of blue carbon, and forge a future for eastern Indonesia that is sustainable and resilient.”

The impact of SEAFOAM doesn’t end at the report’s publication.

SEAFOAM’s project lead in Indonesia, Guntur Sutiyono, says, “Our work is high quality and transparent, which means that our findings have established Climateworks as a credible and trusted advisor in the fields of Ocean and Climate. We have a big picture view which helps Indonesia connect how their climate mitigation could impact across multiple systems, projects and industries. We have also been successful in engaging our stakeholders productively over a short period of time. And we will be there to support them and help them navigate the language, as they share these findings up to the highest level of government.”