No ambition: Youth bemoan green pledges ahead of Indonesia polls

Presidential hopefuls urged to commit to detailed policies to fight climate change

- AeshKUALA LUMPUR/SURABAYA nina Azzahra Aqilani is too young to vote in Indonesia's general election in February, but that has not stopped her from demanding that the three presidential candidates adopt greener policies to combat the climate crisis.

Over the last six months, the 16-year-old student collected almost 1,000 letters, both online and at schools and colleges, from young people across her home province of East Java.

The writers 60 per cent of whom will be first-time voters in the presidential and legislative elections on Feb 14 - all demanded firmer action on climate change and recycling.

"They hope that environmental issues will be prioritised by our three presidential candidates," said Aeshnina, who lives in Gresik regency and forwarded the letters to the candidates in late January.

But so far, there are few signs of that happening, say environmentalists who have urged the candidates to commit to detailed policies to fight climate change in a country rich in forests and peatlands but also one of the world's top 10 greenhouse gas emitters.

Environmentalists say that while the candidates have spoken about the urgent risks posed by climate change a new development from past elections policies on addressing the climate crisis often lack detail and ambition.

Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, former Central Java province governor Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan are all vying to replace popular outgoing leader Joko Widodo, known also as Jokowi, after a decade in power.

Recent polls show Mr Prabowo, whose running mate is Mr Jokowi's son, strengthening his lead over his opponents.