Search Climate Insights Directory

The Dhaka Roundtable brought together experts to discuss the future of the WTO in the face of evolving global trade patterns, such as the rise of mega-trade blocs and global value chains. Key deliberations focused on the viability of plurilateral negotiations as an alternative to the stalled Doha Round, the search for a permanent solution to public food stockholding, and the necessity of strengthening special and differential treatment (S&DT) for LDCs. Participants emphasized that LDCs face significant barriers to participating in global value chains, with LDCs accounting for only 8% of total value added. The summary also outlines the need to implement the Bali LDC Package, specifically regarding duty-free and quota-free market access and the operationalization of the services waiver, to ensure trade serves as a vehicle for socio-economic development post-2015.

The document examines Indonesia's energy subsidy regime, which in 2013 cost the government IDR 299.8 trillion (US$ 27.0 billion), representing 2.5% of GDP. It details the 2013 price increases for gasoline and diesel, the subsequent social compensation packages, and the challenges of LPG and electricity subsidy reforms. The report argues that these subsidies are regressive, encourage wasteful consumption, and crowd out critical infrastructure and social welfare spending. It provides recommendations for transitioning toward targeted assistance and renewable energy to ensure macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth.

Based on an analysis of 15 other climate and development funds, the World Resources Institute suggests that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) should prioritize ground-up investment possibilities, focus on long-term 'paradigm shift' activities over quick fixes, balance impact-driven allocations with fairness adjustments for low-capacity countries, and maintain a flexible yet predictable funding system.

The PEDRA research group focuses on the human dimensions of environmental and socio-economic risks in Asia, employing systems-oriented approaches to promote inclusive governance and resilient development. Its current work includes nine diverse projects addressing climate change adaptation in peri-urban Southeast Asia, gender inequalities in environmental conditions, disaster risk reduction in WASH systems, and the governance of the Bali Cultural Landscape.

The document examines agricultural investment in Indonesia, focusing on two primary business models: contract farming and land concessions. It notes that while agriculture remains a critical source of employment, its relative contribution to GDP has declined. The paper details various contract farming arrangements, such as the plasma-nucleus partnership, and land concession types, including cultivation rights (HGU). It finds that these models have produced mixed results, often hampered by poor governance, land disputes, and a lack of transparency. The author recommends enhancing farmer capacity, reforming land ownership regulations, and implementing a geographical information system to manage land use.

The document identifies a significant gap between climate research and practical application in Asia, noting that while national-level knowledge exists in some countries, sub-national and local levels suffer from severe data and capacity deficits. It highlights systemic barriers such as language, technical framing of research, and the underrepresentation of local traditional knowledge. The brief argues for a collaborative approach that integrates capacity-building with research, utilizes scenario-based analysis to manage uncertainty, and prioritizes the translation of technical data into local languages and simplified formats to support practitioners and policy-makers.

The document examines the vulnerability of climate-sensitive livelihoods—primarily agriculture, fishing, and forestry—in Asia. It highlights that while governments and NGOs are implementing adaptation measures like crop diversification and mangrove restoration, externally led interventions can sometimes cause maladaptation by increasing market dependency. The brief emphasizes the need to integrate local and traditional knowledge, address the specific vulnerabilities of women and marginalized groups, and leverage social assets and community forestry to build resilience.

The report finds that the implementation of Indonesia's National Action Plan Addressing Climate Change (RAN-PI) has been generally poor, particularly at the local and community levels, due to a lack of national legal foundations and poor vertical communication. While some provincial and district offices report adaptation activities like reforestation and coral transplantation, village-level communities often remain unaware of national policies and struggle with immediate climate impacts such as water scarcity, crop failure, and coastal erosion. The assessment emphasizes the need for a bottom-up approach that integrates traditional indigenous knowledge with modern science and calls for the empowerment of 'local champions' to build community resilience.

The report analyzes Indonesia's fuel subsidy regime, highlighting the fiscal burden of spending IDR 164.7 trillion (US$ 18.1 billion) in 2011. It evaluates the government's 2012 plans to restrict 'Premium' gasoline use and deploy CNG and LGV alternatives, while recommending a transition toward market-based pricing and improved public communication to mitigate social unrest.

The report analyzes Indonesia's long-term struggle to reform fossil-fuel subsidies, focusing on the period from 1998 to 2010. It examines the rationale for reform—primarily relieving budgetary pressure and improving social welfare efficiency—and evaluates two specific strategies: the Bantuan Langsung Tunai (BLT) unconditional cash transfer program and the Kerosene to LPG Conversion Program. The document concludes that while targeted cash transfers and fuel-switching programs can effectively reduce political opposition and budgetary burdens, they require rigorous preparation and monitoring to avoid social conflict and implementation failures.

The Male’ Declaration, adopted by Small Island Developing States in 2007, argues that climate change threatens fundamental human rights and calls for urgent global action to limit temperature rises to below 2°C and greenhouse gas concentrations to under 450ppm. It specifically requests that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights study the effects of climate change on human rights and that the UN Human Rights Council convene a debate on the subject in March 2009.

The GCF approved USD 3.7 billion for 76 projects across 79 developing countries, targeting a reduction of 1.3 billion metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Key operational developments include the launch of the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) Pilot Scheme, the adoption of an Indigenous Peoples Policy, and the establishment of an Environmental and Social Policy. The fund is also preparing for its first formal replenishment process and expanding its private sector engagement through dedicated pilot programmes for MSMEs and resource mobilization at scale.

The paper examines the historical relationship between human settlements and their environments, contrasting traditional sustainable systems with modern industrial disengagement. It proposes a new regionalism in architecture that uses climatic data to inform design and advocates for 'ecological utilities'—buildings designed primarily to repair and rebuild the environment by providing ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water remediation, and soil regeneration.

The report critiques the Indonesian government's strategy of using natural gas as a 'bridge' fuel, specifically focusing on planned gas infrastructure in Bali, including a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) and several gas power plants (PLTG). It argues that gas is not a clean energy source due to methane leaks and carbon emissions, which contribute to the extreme weather and water crises already affecting Bali. The document highlights social and environmental damages from existing gas projects, such as the PLTGU Pemaron, and argues that Bali's significant renewable energy potential—estimated up to 26 GW—should be prioritized over fossil fuels to achieve true energy independence and climate resilience.

This report by Trend Asia, CELIOS, and CREA identifies the 20 most toxic coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in Indonesia, termed the "Toxic Twenty." It analyzes the severe public health, economic, and environmental costs associated with these facilities, arguing that current government retirement roadmaps are insufficient and often delayed by a reliance on unproven technologies like co-firing and CCS/CCUS. The report provides detailed case studies for several plants, documenting widespread respiratory illnesses, loss of traditional livelihoods in fisheries and agriculture, and significant negative impacts on regional GDP.

The report identifies the 'Toxic Twenty' coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, estimating that between 2026 and 2050, they will cause 156,000 premature deaths and USD 109 billion in health-related economic losses. It argues that these plants create a net economic drain, reducing regional GDP and destroying livelihoods in agriculture and fisheries, while criticizing the government's reliance on 'false solutions' like biomass co-firing to extend the life of fossil fuel infrastructure.

The document argues that Indonesia is facing a climate emergency, evidenced by record temperatures in Larantuka and high greenhouse gas emissions. It criticizes the government's continued investment in coal-fired power plants (PLTU), the use of biomass co-firing which leads to deforestation, and the environmental damage caused by nickel mining for electric vehicle batteries. The guide advocates for community-based renewable energy and provides a roadmap for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint and engage in collective political pressure to demand accountability from policymakers.