Parties and Environmental Issues: PDIP Action Programs in the Reformation Era, 2002-2014

Doctoral Program of History, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: awpbening@students.undip.ac.id

Abstract

This paper examined programs implemented by a political party, in this case the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), during the 2002-2014 period. The reform era has brought environmental issues to the fore with worsening environmental degradation attributed to the implementation of Law Number 23 of 1997 concerning Environmental Management (UUPLH), which was considered to be substantially, structurally, and culturally weak. The high level of conflict in the management of the environment and natural resources (SDA) has led to demands from environmental activists for political parties to raise environmental issues in their election campaigns (Election 2004). Reflecting on the 1999 election, as mentioned in the source, only four political parties were deemed to have paid attention to environmental issues - PDIP, the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the National Awakening Party (PKB). Basically, according to PDIP’s perspective, having a great concern for environmental problems is a prerequisite to addressing environmental damage. In this regard, concrete steps taken by PDIP in overcoming environmental problems need to be explored. Using the historical method, it was found that PDIP, which won the 1999 general election and became the top three in the 2004 election, consistently paid attention to environmental issues. This concern was demonstrated not only by incorporating environmental issues into the content of the election campaign but also by implementing disaster prevention and management action programs. Prevention was carried out, among others, through regular tree planting activities and adapting to the natural conditions of each region. Meanwhile, the disaster emergency response program was carried out by PDIP through the PDIP Disaster Management Agency (Baguna).