Papuaaround.com – Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Environmental Control Agency Head, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, stated that the natural calibration of the earth shows the ice at Carstensz Peak in Papua is expected to vanish entirely by 2026.
Speaking virtually at the Bali Climate Week 2025 in Denpasar on Monday, Hanif stressed that nature has given a clear signal regarding the rapid changes in the region. “Nature cannot be deceived. Today, the ice that once covered Carstensz Peak, one of Indonesia’s highest summits, has already melted significantly,” he remarked.
He noted that despite domestic and global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, natural conditions remain unavoidable. According to data from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the remaining snow and ice at the peak will disappear completely within the next year and a half.
Hanif recalled his visit to the peak in 2023, when approximately one-third of the mountain was still covered with snow. However, more recent observations revealed that rising emissions have accelerated the melting process, leaving bare rock where glaciers once stood.
“The conclusion is clear. No matter how strong our rhetoric or enthusiasm, nature has calibrated itself differently. Our efforts have not yet created a meaningful impact on reducing greenhouse gases,” Hanif explained.
He expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing that Indonesia has pledged to the global community its commitment to emission reductions. The country has outlined three major policy documents that serve as guidelines for these targets: the Post-Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the Objective NDC (ONDC), and the Enhanced NDC (ENDC). These frameworks commit Indonesia to reducing emissions independently by 31.89 percent and by 43.20 percent with international assistance.
Yet, current conditions highlight how far both Indonesia and the world remain from achieving climate stabilization. Global temperatures continue to climb, showing that commitments are not enough to halt environmental degradation.
Hanif further underlined the urgency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) mandate at COP28 in Dubai, which called on countries to prepare a second NDC with 2019 as the baseline year. He noted that Indonesia has finalized its draft and will submit it first to President Prabowo Subianto for review.
“This document is vital because it accelerates what was mandated at COP28, ensuring that every nation details its emission reduction targets using a consistent reference year,” Hanif said.
He concluded by stressing that superficial measures are no longer viable. Concrete and measurable actions must replace rhetoric if countries are serious about addressing climate change.
The looming disappearance of Carstensz Peak’s ice not only represents a symbolic loss of one of Indonesia’s natural landmarks but also stands as a stark warning of the accelerating climate crisis.
