Indonesia Also Needs Green Infrastructure

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government is now encouraging equitable infrastructure development to be able to enlarge the flow of goods and services distribution to boost the country's economy. Unfortunately, the construction of various infrastructure projects is not balanced with the development of green infrastructure.

In theory, Green Infrastructure (Green Infrastructure) is a concept, effort, or approach to maintain a sustainable environment through the arrangement of green open spaces and maintain natural processes that occur in nature such as rainwater cycles, soil conditions, etc.

The public can see directly in big cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Makassar, the development of infrastructure projects especially to overcome the classic problem of congestion. This is in line with the exposure of Climate Change Specialist Asian Development, Michael Rattinger's, which explains it as the most likely solution to addressing urban issues.

Therefore, it is important to build an environmentally friendly infrastructure which will have an impact on the quality of the population. Building a green infrastructure does cost more than regular infrastructure but the long-term effects can be more seriously positive. On the other hand, green infrastructure will be more sustainable and durable in operation.

"When we have to repeat development into a smart infrastructure, it is much more expensive," said Michael Rattinger as reported Kompas.com (22/8).

He explained that sustainable infrastructure, not only viewed from the ecological side but also social and economic. Infrastructure should also give people access to jobs, facilities, health, and other opportunities that can change their lives for the better.

In this case, infrastructure can provide mobilization, telecommunications or energy. Hence Michael asserted, "It is about finding solutions how infrastructure can provide a better life.If the government and other stakeholders work maximally, people can get a chance to improve their lives."