Bappenas: Younger Generations Crucial in Helping Indonesia Achieve SDGs

YOGYAKARTA - As the coordinator of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Implementation in Indonesia through the National SDGs Secretariat, the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas engaged in a dialogue with Indonesian youth to discuss strategies for leveraging the demographic bonus to achieve the SDGs. 

"How can we utilize the demographic bonus? By enhancing the capabilities of our human resources. Our human resources must be healthy and intelligent," explained the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Suharso Monoarfa during the SDGs Annual Conference 2023 (SAC) Summer Soiree for Sustainability: Creative and Inspirational Youth Actions for SDGs in Yogyakarta on Sunday (5/11).

This demographic bonus can be achieved by increasing population productivity, enhancing human capital, and providing more employment opportunities. In order to achieve that, Minister Suharso encouraged the younger generation to be able to create job opportunities. "I challenge the youth of today to become job creators. I believe many opportunities have been created by young people, and to move forward, their capabilities must be empowered and supported," added Minister Suharso.

The agenda with the theme "Preserving Water, Caring for the Earth, Building with Technology for a Greener Future for Indonesia" also emphasized the importance of the younger generation's role in supporting SDGs, from using social media for spreading positive information, to conducting daily activities that support sustainable development. 

"An easy thing to do is to practice the 5Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, replant, and replace. We have to move together and start now," added UNDP Indonesia SDGs Mover figure Chelsea Islan.

The SAC 2023 series of events began with a 33K fun bike, a 10K fun run/walk, and the planting of 1,000 trees on the campus of Gadjah Mada University with the theme "Seeds of Hope: Bequeathing a Greener Earth for Future Generations." In collaboration with the Tanoto Foundation, Social Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Expert Pungkas Bahjuri Ali led the planting of Yellow Tabebuia trees, and it was participated by all attendees.

The discussion on youth and sustainable development also featured Rangkai.id Founder Rangga Redemptus Raditya, Founder of bijakmemilih.id and thinkpolicy.id Andhyta F. Utami, Banoo Indonesia CEO Fajar Sidik Abdullah, and Surplus.id CMO Alya Fatina Diandari as development partners, all of whom represent the youth in supporting the acceleration of SDGs achievement in Indonesia.