REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SIPIROK — Batang Toru hydropower plant (PLTA) in South Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra planted Merati Merah and Meranti Batu plants along with local government, academics, and non-governmental organizations, and community leaders. This action was conducted to protect the earth from climate change threat.

The planting activity was carried out at commemorating of World Earth Day 2019 at Batang Toru hydropower plant on Monday (Apr 22). Meranti Merah and Meranti Batu are the species of rare plant, which categorized by  International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Thorught this activity, the plants will be protected from extinction. This also in line with the global theme of Earth Day, namely Protect Our Species.

A number of figures attended this activity. They were South Tapanuli deputy regent Aswin Siregar, Vice President of Communications & Social Affairs PT NSHE Firman Taufick, Deputy rector III Muhammadiyah South Tapanuli University Syawaluddin, and all elements representatives of South tapanuli community.

Firman Taufick gave a statement that our earth today faces a big threat from climante change. The threat has increasingly become a reality. He said ecological disasters, such as hurricanes which often happen in several countries was a form of the impact.

“Ecological disasters such as hurricanes that often occur in several countries, the increasing temperature on earth, and the uncertain climate are forms of climate change impacts," said Taufick in a statement on Monday (Apr 22).

Climate change occurs as a result of hundreds of years of humans continuously releasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere by using fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum. One important effort for mitigation and adaptation to climate change is to use renewable energy such as hydropower to reduce carbon emissions due to the use of fossil energy. In addition, increasing the planting of plants includes effective measures to reduce carbon emissions.  

According to Taufick, Batang Toru hydropower plant chose Meranti Merah and Meranti Batu trees because this species was threatened with extinction due to excessive use by humans. This refers to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN red list), which is an international regulation that regulates scarcity, which states the second status of conservation of the two plants as; Near Threatened (NT), and Endangered (E). Therefore in the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) document made by NSHE.

Meanwhile, in his opening speech, Aswin Siregar said local government and community in South Tapanuli committed to use renewable energy to preserve the region and the world. Maintaining sustainability will also be carried out by planting plants because they have many benefits, including maintaining water reserves and absorbing carbon emissions that are important for dealing with climate change.

Not only planting rare plants,  2019 World Earth Day Celebration was also carried out with the realization of the commitment of PT North Sumatra Hydro Energy (NSHE) as the executor of the Batang Toru hydropower plant and Muhammadiyah South Tapanuli University. The commitment of cooperation is a manifestation of the hydropower plant concern to help the increasing of knowledge capacity for students and academics in the issue of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

"The climate change agenda requires scientific support. All efforts made to reduce the rate of climate change must be scientifically based in order to be socially and academically accountable. This form of collaboration is also one of the efforts of the business community to support the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Universities,” Taufick explained.

Furthermore, Syawaluddin said  the threat of climate change to humanity and future generations is a fact that cannot be denied. Therefore, it takes effort from all elements of society to take concrete actions in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Syawaluddin believed cooperation between Batang Toru hydropower plant and academics, such as Muhammadiyah South Tapanuli University can contribute positively to increasing student capacity in the issue of climate change. Nowadays,  climate change has become a global issue that must be of concern to all parties.

United Nations (UN) once stated that now climate change has affected every country on every continent. This disrupts the national economy and affects life, harms many people, society, and the country at this time and even more in the future.

Based on the statement, Batang Toru hydropower plant (PLTA) invited all parties to take action to protect the earth. By planting Meranti Merah and Meranti Batu plants, it expected to affect to save the ecosystem, started in the surrounding area first.

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