On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the President Development Center (PDC), a business unit of President University (Presuniv) specializing in business training and consultancy, organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Development of an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Platform for the Jababeka Industrial Area. This event was held at the President Executive Club in the Capitol Business District, Cikarang, Bekasi, and was part of the ongoing collaboration between Presuniv and PT Jababeka Infrastruktur. It aimed to gather input from various stakeholders for the creation of an ESG platform.
The discussion, moderated by Desmon Ginting, PhD, Director of the Center for Project and Initiative at Presuniv, marked the beginning of the process of developing an ESG platform for tenants in the Jababeka area. Yosef Barita Sar Manik, ST, M.Sc., Ph.D., Head of the Research Team and Chair of the Environmental Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, Presuniv, emphasized the importance of the platform. “The global community is increasingly aware of the importance of incorporating environmental performance into corporate portfolios. This is why we are gathering ideas and input from all participants,” he explained.
Regi Risman Sandi, ST, NZICC Project Manager at PT Jababeka Infrastruktur, shared that the company has already started transitioning to renewable energy. “We aim to comply with the necessary standards for Jababeka to be recognized as an eco-industrial park. We will support companies in this area to adhere to these standards,” he said. Regi noted that if the transition to renewable energy succeeds, the emissions produced by businesses in the Jababeka industrial area could be significantly reduced.
The use of ESG principles is increasingly vital in the industrial world. Ignatius Denny Wicaksono, CFA, CIPM, FRM, Head of Business Development 2–Indonesia Stock Exchange, stressed the growing environmental awareness in global markets. Citing data, Denny mentioned that the number of investors using the ESG Index as a basis for their investments is steadily increasing. “Many now request that companies at least consider their carbon emissions. For example, if you want to export goods to Europe, your carbon emissions will be calculated,” Denny explained.
Despite regulations to protect the environment, many companies still prioritize profit over environmental concerns. “Environmental documents are meant to protect the environment, but these are often viewed merely as business requirements. As a result, reports and the reality on the ground often do not match. To bypass this, companies often outsource report preparation to consultants. Perhaps out of 100 companies, around 90% of the reports are made by consultants, which often leads to discrepancies between the reports and the actual conditions,” said Nita Walla, M.Si., Head of Environmental Compliance, West Java Province Environmental Agency.
This indifference toward the environment poses significant risks to both people and the planet. “If there is pollution in a river, it will eventually flow into the sea. Especially in Bekasi, where the river flows from the industrial south and central areas to the north, where many people rely on the water for agriculture,” said Sukmawati Karnahadijat, ST, Secretary of the Bekasi Regency Environmental Agency.
Given these circumstances, the development of an ESG platform for industrial areas is crucial. “We are tasked with conducting a study to create a platform that bridges the existing applications of 1,300 companies in the Jababeka industrial area, allowing them to connect and integrate with the Jababeka Infrastruktur platform. This will enable companies to evaluate areas that need improvement,” said Ir. Temmy Wikaningrum, M.Si., Lecturer in the Environmental Engineering Study Program at Presuniv and a member of the ESG Platform Development Study Team. (Graciella V, PR Team. Photo: Graciella V).