UK, Indonesia Launch Flagship Bilateral Transport Partnership

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar JAKARTA, July 6 (Bernama) -- The United Kingdom government through the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT)'s funding has committed nine million pounds over three years, to finance five low-carbon transport projects in Indonesia. These projects will support Indonesia's transition towards inclusive, low-carbon urban mobility, whilst also promoting economic growth, the UK PACT said in a statement. The five projects will help develop a national low-carbon transport roadmap; integrate climate solutions into national and local government planning; increase ambition on decarbonising transport; and make low-carbon transport projects more attractive to investors. In the implementation, British engineering consultancy firm, Buro Happold will work with PT Kereta Api Indonesia and the Metropolitan Semarang authorities to tackle financing and delivery barriers blocking the development of light rail transport systems. Engineers and technical specialists firm, Arup will work with Transport Ministry, urban authorities and community groups to raise the profile of public transport as a safe, daily transport choice. Independent research organisation, World Resources Institute Indonesia will help implement low-carbon and safe urban mobility strategies in coastal metropolitan Makassar and Surabaya, which are vulnerable to sea-level rise and flooding. The Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York will contribute to the Transport Ministry's plans to reduce urban transport carbon emissions and support to Greater Medan authorities to develop, finance, implement, and accelerate inclusive low-carbon transport projects. US-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy will provide the government of Jakarta with support to increase levels of low-carbon transport across the city. UK PACT is a flagship programme under the UK's International Climate Finance (ICF) portfolio is jointly governed and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The UK is committed to tackling climate change and is investing 11.6 billion pound via ICF over five years to March 2026. -- BERNAMA