There was a formal but forward-looking conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. It brought together people from eastern Indonesia and one of the most important diplomatic missions in Europe. Talks at the British Embassy could change the course of sustainable development in one of Indonesia’s most important environmental issues.
The Papua Barat Provincial Government, led by Dominggus Mandacan, and the British Embassy Jakarta, led by Dominic Jermey, got together to talk about how they could work together on education, protecting the environment, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
Papua Barat took a big step toward becoming a global partner in sustainability during the conference. People know this area for its big trees, marine life, and native culture. It is also asking other countries for real help with its growth problems.
A Province That Matters for the Environment Around the World
Papua Barat is a unique place, both in Indonesia and on the world’s environmental map. The province is very important for keeping the weather under control, protecting biodiversity, and taking care of the land that belongs to the people who live there. It is part of the famous Bird’s Head Seascape and has a lot of tropical rainforest that hasn’t been touched.
Governor Dominggus Mandacan said that Papua Barat’s growth path needed to find a way to make money while also protecting the environment. He spoke at the conference about how the province promised to protect the forest cover while making life better for its people by making smart investments.
“We don’t think that development and conservation are goals that are at odds with each other,” the governor said. Papua Barat’s idea of sustainable development is making people’s lives better while also protecting forests, seas, and the rights of native people.
Papua Barat has wanted to be known as a province that cares about the environment for a long time, and this point of view fits with that goal. For the past ten years, it has affected policy in the region.
The Meeting in Jakarta
The conference was held at the British Embassy in Jakarta on February 3, 2026. There were officials from Papua Barat, diplomats from the UK, and technical experts from both sides. The main point of the talk was to see how British knowledge, money, and policy experience could help Papua Barat reach its goals.
How to take care of the environment, make renewable energy, improve education, and help the economy grow in the long run were some of the main topics.
People in charge of the province said that the meeting wasn’t just for show. It was thought that this would be the first step toward working together in a planned way that could lead to pilot projects, technical help programs, and long-term partnerships.
Working Together for Climate and Environmental Commitments
A lot of people talked about how to protect the environment. Papua Barat is one of the parts of Indonesia that is most likely to be hurt by climate change. This can happen when the sea level rises, ecosystems break down, and the rain falls in a different way.
British officials said they want to help Papua Barat reach its environmental goals, especially when it comes to protecting forests, helping communities deal with climate change, and making sure that everyone can use natural resources in a way that works for everyone.
The UK has worked with other countries around the world to protect forests and stop climate change. For instance, people all over the world are trying to cut down on the pollution that comes from cutting down trees. Officials from Papua Barat talked about how to link their provincial conservation efforts to global climate finance systems.
This kind of teamwork could help make monitoring systems better, help native people take care of their forests, and make sure that conservation activities really help the people who live there.
The Problem of Wanting to Invest in Clean Energy
How energy is growing was another important topic of conversation. Papua Barat still has trouble giving people reliable and cheap power, especially those who live on islands or in remote areas.
Governor Mandacan said that it is very important for more people to get involved in the oil and gas business. He wanted the British government and other groups to help people work together and put money into the business. People in a certain area are working on energy projects that are still being planned, based on what they are interested in. Local governments may be able to make more money and have more say in the projects this way.
The governor also talked about how important it is to use both fossil fuels and renewable energy. Papua Barat has a lot of room for clean energy sources like solar, hydro, and others. These could help lower the amount of carbon emissions and the number of diesel generators used.
The British government agreed that there were great prospects and said that the UK had a lot of experience with switching to renewable energy, using energy more efficiently, and making rules that encourage long-term investment.
The Key to Long-Term Growth is Education
People understood that education was an important part of reaching any other goal for development. The government of Papua Barat said that protecting the environment and using renewable energy require smart people, strong institutions, and skilled workers.
The talks included ideas for how to work together in education, like giving scholarships, setting up academic exchanges, providing vocational training, and helping colleges and universities in Papua Barat.
The British Embassy said they were open to working with colleges and other organizations, especially in fields like public policy, governance, environmental science, and renewable energy.
Papua Barat thinks that better education is a good long-term investment that will help people in the area take care of their natural resources instead of depending on professionals from other places.
Indigenous Rights and Old-Growth Forests
Another important topic that came up was how to protect the rights of Aboriginal people and their land. There are many different indigenous groups in Papua Barat, and their ways of life and traditions are closely tied to the land and sea.
Governor Mandacan talked about the Manokwari Conference on Customary Forests that is coming up. This is a campaign to get people to care about the rights of native people to their land and to help keep their own communities safe.
He hoped that the UK could help in some way, like by giving technical support, talking about policy, or standing up for it on the world stage.
British officials were happy with the answer and said that more and more people are starting to understand that protecting the rights of native people and having a government that includes everyone are important for long-term growth.
Making Sure that Plans Fit with Global Goals
The cooperation being looked into fits with bigger global goals, like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and agreements between countries on climate change.
The UK can help protect the environment in a part of the world that is very important to the environment by working with Papua Barat. Papua Barat can get resources, information, and contacts that can help speed up sustainable development through its ties to other countries.
Both sides agreed that any work they do together must be based on honesty, respect, and local control. It’s very important to put the needs of the people who live there first and change projects to meet those needs.
Getting Closer to Working Together Outside of Politics
The Jakarta conference was just the start, but officials in the provinces made it clear that more work needed to be done. These include talking about technical issues, picking the most important projects, and working with national ministries.
The government of Papua Barat wants to set up working groups to turn diplomatic talks into real actions. There will be more research into things like pilot projects for renewable energy, ways to keep an eye on the environment, and student exchanges.
British officials said they would tell the right people in the UK, like development agencies and academic partners, what happened at the conference.
Papua Barat in the Big Picture
Papua Barat’s work with the British Embassy is just one part of a larger plan to make connections with more countries. In the past, Indonesia’s growth has mostly come from help from its own people and from other countries in the region. But now, leaders in the provinces are beginning to see how important it is to work with other countries.
The leaders of Papua Barat want to show that places with a lot of environmental value can grow in ways that are good for the environment, open to everyone, and connected to the rest of the world.
At the end of the meeting, Governor Mandacan said again that Papua Barat is looking for partners who will value local knowledge and work toward long-term sustainability. “We want progress that our children and grandchildren can be proud of,” he said. “That means protecting nature, giving people power, and making institutions strong.”
In the Future
Papua Barat and the UK talked about what they could do together on February 4, 2026. They didn’t make any quick deals, but they did lay the groundwork for more in-depth talks in the future.
As more and more people around the world talk about climate change, loss of biodiversity, and sustainable development, places like Papua Barat are becoming more and more important to these debates.
Papua Barat could work with the UK to improve its environmental management, make renewable energy easier to get, improve education outcomes, and show a way to get rich while also protecting the environment.
For now, the summit in Jakarta is a sign of purpose. It shows that Papua Barat wants to help protect the environment around the world and that other countries are willing to listen.
In a world where environmental and socioeconomic problems are linked, these kinds of talks may be necessary to make the future better for everyone, not just Papua Barat.
