Economists Who Choose to Stand on the Side of the Environment

GARISBUMI.com – Long before the climate crisis was widely discussed, Emil Salim warned that economic growth should not deplete natural wealth and rob the next generation of their future.

In the 1970s, Indonesia was actively developing. Roads were extended, factories were built, industrial areas grew, and natural resources were opened up to drive the economy. The success of development is mostly assessed by economic growth and increasing infrastructure.

In the midst of this great enthusiasm, environmental issues have not received the attention they do now. The impact of development on forests, rivers, land and people's lives has not always been a primary consideration.

Emil Salim is here to bring a different perspective. As an economist, he understands the importance of growth. However, he also saw that development could lose meaning if economic benefits were only enjoyed today, while the damage was passed on to the next generation.

Emil Salim became known as an economist, academic and former minister who became one of the pioneers of environmental policy in Indonesia. In 1978, he was trusted to lead the first ministry with a special mandate to deal with development and environmental issues.

Growing Up in a Family That Values Education

Prof. Dr. Emil Salim was born in Lahat, South Sumatra (Sumsel), on June 8 1930. His childhood took place when Indonesia was still under colonial rule. Education has not become something that is easily accessible to all levels of society.

Emil comes from a Minangkabau family that places education, service and social responsibility as important values. He is also the nephew of Haji Agus Salim, diplomat, journalist, and one of the important figures in Indonesia's struggle for independence.

This family environment helped shape Emil's closeness to science and national issues.

After completing secondary education, Emil continued his studies at the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia. He then had the opportunity to study at the University of California, Berkeley, United States, until he earned a doctorate in economics.

Emil didn't take the title home to keep it as a personal achievement. He returned to the academic world and taught at the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia. From campus, the journey moves towards a wider space, namely national development planning.

Economics brings him close to the growth, investment, production and income figures of the country. However, behind those numbers, there are problems that are not always recorded: polluted water, depleted forests, people who have lost their source of livelihood, and recovery costs that must be paid later.

From Campus to Government

Emil Salim entered government circles when Indonesia was charting the course of its economic development. He was involved in a team of economic advisors, then held a number of important positions in government.

In 1971, Emil was trusted to be Minister of State for Refinement and Cleansing of the State Apparatus. He carried out this task until 1973 before being appointed as Minister of Transportation for the period 1973 to 1978.

His experience in government exposed him to various development issues. Infrastructure really opens up relations between regions and drives the economy. However, development also brings consequences that need to be taken into account from the start.

Road construction can facilitate the movement of people and goods, but opening new access can also increase pressure on forest areas. Industry creates jobs, but poor waste management threatens rivers and public health.

Mining brings revenue to the state and region. On the other hand, these activities can leave land damage, pollution and social problems if not managed responsibly.

The issue is not simply choosing development or the environment. Indonesia needs development, but this development must maintain the foundations of life that support it.

When the Environment Enters Government

In 1978, President Soeharto appointed Emil Salim as State Minister for Development and Environmental Supervision. This position makes him the first minister in Indonesia to receive a special mandate in environmental affairs.

At that time, the government's attention to the environment was still in its early stages. The institutions have only just been built, the legal instruments are limited, while the interests of development and utilization of natural resources are moving very quickly.

Emil's job is not just to manage a new ministry. He must introduce the environment as part of development to the bureaucracy, business actors, academics and the public.

This job is certainly not easy. Environmental issues are often considered to be discussed after economic matters are resolved. Nature protection is often seen as an obstacle to investment and development.

Emil brings a different approach. As an economist, he explains environmental problems through their close effects on people's lives and the economy.

Damage to Nature Has Costs

A polluted river is not just a matter of water changing color or emitting an odor. In it there are costs that many people have to bear.

The community lost its source of clean water. Citizens' health is threatened. Farmers have difficulty getting water for agricultural land. Fishermen lose fish, while the government has to spend money to deal with pollution and restore the environment.

The company may earn profits from its production activities. However, if waste is disposed of without proper management, some of the costs of these activities are transferred to the community and the state.

This perspective is what makes Emil Salim's thinking different. He sees environmental damage as an ecological as well as an economic problem.

Nature cannot continue to be considered a free resource that can be taken without limit. Clean water, healthy air, fertile soil, protected forests and biodiversity have value for life and the economy.

When these elements are damaged, society has to pay a heavy price. Sometimes those costs appear in the form of money. In other circumstances, society pays for it through illness, disaster, job loss, or reduced quality of life.

Pioneering a Path Not Yet Traveled

The presence of a ministry that handles the environment does not necessarily stop pollution, forest destruction and exploitation of natural resources.

At that time, its authority was not as large as that of the ministry that manages the economic and natural resources sectors. Environmental awareness in government, business and society also still needs to be built.

Nevertheless, a door has been opened.

The environment is starting to gain a place in discussions about development. The government is slowly being encouraged to not only calculate the investment value and economic benefits of a project, but also pay attention to its impact on nature and people's lives.

Emil Salim also strengthened the role of universities in developing environmental science. He is known as one of the pioneers of the Center for Environmental Studies at the University of Indonesia, which later became an important part in the development of environmental education and research in Indonesia.

The Director of the UI School of Environmental Sciences, Supriatna, called Emil Salim a figure who helped build the foundation of the Indonesian environmental movement. According to him, Emil was able to connect science, public policy and the interests of society.

This step is important because environmental policy is not sufficiently built on good intentions and political courage. Indonesia needs research, data, experts and human resources who understand the relationship between development, humans and nature.

The Beginning of a Longer Struggle

Emil Salim did not come with the belief that development should be stopped. He actually invited the government to look at development more holistically.

Economic growth is still needed. Roads, industry, energy, housing and jobs are also needed. However, all of this must not be built by depleting the community's livelihood resources.

The ideas introduced by Emil Salim later developed into an important foundation for national environmental policy. Once the environment has a place in government, the next challenge is to build rules, institutions and instruments to prevent damage.

In the next round, Emil no longer only introduces the environment as part of development. He helped encourage the birth of a tool that changed the way governments and business actors assess the impact of a project.

This is where the journey towards environmental policy and Environmental Impact Analysis or AMDAL begins.

Continued to Part 2: When Emil Salim Brings the Environment to the Heart of Development Policy