Asia Pacific Leaders Forum (APLF) aims to bring together heads of state and government, ministers, local government leaders, civil society organisations, business, and development partners to share their experiences and best practices in the linkages between open government with inclusive development.

With the world experiencing a crisis of trust in institutions, there is the urgency for political leadership on open government; a more effective, participatory, accountable government that brings prosperity to each and every one of its citizens. Thus, APLF aims to push this agenda by bringing together heads of state and government, ministers, local government leaders, civil society organisations, business, and development partners to share their experiences and best practices on how government can truly serve and empower their citizens.

Asia Pacific Leaders' Forum on Open Government: “Open Government for Inclusive Development” hosted by the Government of Indonesia. The APLF 2017 will also be a platform to strengthen the South-South and Triangular Cooperation and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

APLF 2017 will provide ample opportunities for participants to exchange knowledge and best practices on how the region has used open government as a means to achieve inclusive development by promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, effectively and efficiently delivering public services, and promoting sustainable development both at national and subnational level.

WRI Indonesia with Publish What You Pay Indonesia is given the opportunity to participate and co-host a session at the APLF 2017:

Session 4 – The Role of Open Government in Environmental Sustainability

Background

When the Open Government Partnership was launched in 2011, member country governments embarked on crafting and implementing national action plans to make governments more transparent and accountable to citizens. In addition to this, by 2015 there was adoption of The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the ladnmark agreement on Climate Change was also forged in Paris. Those agendas collectively aim to fulfill an audacious vision: end extreme poverty, advance human prosperity and protect the planet for future generations – and Open Government plays a critical role in each.

The success of the Open Government Partnership in achieving their national action plan has become one reason member of countries, civil society and development partners together co-creating two working group in relation to environment sustainainability. Those are OGP Open Climate Working Group and Natural Resources Working Group. The working group helps facilitate the creation and implementation of natural resources related commiment and climate change action that are concrete, impactful, ambitious and targeted to the specific context. The Working Group committed to enable peer learning, knowledge exchange and support for countries, local government and stakeholders strengthening natural resources and climate governance.

Through peer learning, identifying innovative approaches to develop institutional support for effective implementation of cross-cutting natural resources and climate policies can be implemented. Through the participation and collaboration efforts of key stakeholders such as environmental oversight agencies, networks, industry, private sector partners, civil society groups and international organizations, the working group initiates and sustaines a valuable and much needed dialogue regarding environmental sustainability. The Role of Open Government in Environmental Sustainability discussion will bring country leaders, subnational government leaders, senior officials, advocates, civil society leaders, development partners, business sector leaders to discuss how open government works for countries achieving their environmental commitment through natural resources and climate actions. It is encouraged for Governments and civil society organizations to use the open government space to promote democratic climate action in their countries.

This session will also introduces Jurisdictional Approach (JA) as a possible approach to implement a range of program types applied at sub-national levels to achieve lasting, jurisdiction-wide improvements to natural resource management. This approach encompasses potential foundation for districts intending to move towards sustainability. It explores the rationale behind this commitment, provides country examples, and offers ideas around good practice.

Objective and Key Topics of the Session

The session is expected to deliver the practices of open government principles in natural resources and climate change actions that delivers better policies, practices, and concrete examples. Provide opportunity to showcase on-going districts leadership and collaboration to support implementation of sustainable vision – aligned with NDCs, Paris Agreement, Green Growth, SDGs and OGP principles. The panelist will discuss more to co-creation in natural resources and climate change policy making.

Considering this broad challenges in sustainable environment, this session will focus on the following specific areas:

  1. Co-Creation in Natural Resources and Climate Policy Making. How can transparency, openness, and accountability foster the trust of citizens, stakeholders by making more participatory policies and improve the investment climate in the country specifically in natural resources and sustainable economy.

  2. Making Jurisdictional Approach Works with Open Governance . How can open government principles contribute to better natural resources governance, environmental disclosure, green investment. Discuss about beneficial ownership disclosure with jurisdictional approach.

Moderator: Dr. Nirarta Samadhi (M), WRI Indonesia

Speakers:

  • Yanuar Nugroho, Executive Office of the President, Republic of Indonesia

  • Aisha Khan, Mountain and Glacier Protection Organization, Pakistan

  • Dodi Reza Alex, Regent of Musi Banyuasin, Indonesia

  • Tina Pimentel, Bantay Kita, Philippine