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The report argues that Indonesia's biomass co-firing policy, led by PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), threatens natural forests. To achieve 10% co-firing across 107 coal power plants, Trend Asia estimates a need for at least 2.33 million hectares of energy wood plantations. Based on historical data showing 38% of industrial timber plantations were established via deforestation, the report warns that this policy could increase annual deforestation rates from 630 thousand to 2.1 million hectares. It further highlights contradictions between the government's Enhanced NDC emission targets and its increasing deforestation quotas, while noting that biomass burning creates a 'carbon debt' rather than being carbon neutral.

The project aims to reduce the vulnerability of Indonesian populations to climate hazards by shifting from post-hoc disaster response to a proactive model of anticipatory action. It focuses on two primary outcomes: establishing a national Forecast-Based Financing (FbF) system and strengthening 'Last Mile Climate Services' (LMCS) to ensure climate information reaches local communities. The project will be implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) over four years, with a specific local roll-out and pilot in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province. Total indicative costs are USD 8,704,500, with USD 7,140,000 requested as a grant from the GCF.

Trend Asia challenges PT PLN's claim that biomass co-firing facilitates an energy transition and reduces emissions. The report argues that the massive land requirements for energy plantation forests (HTE) to supply wood pellets would lead to significant deforestation, resulting in net carbon emissions rather than reductions. It finds that biomass has become a complement to, rather than a substitute for, coal, with total coal consumption continuing to rise.

The analysis examines how the expansion of built-up areas at the expense of natural heat sinks like green spaces and water bodies increases urban heat risks in major cities across the Critical 9 countries. Using Copernicus Land Monitoring Service data and the IPCC's SSP1-1.9 scenario, the report details specific land-use losses in cities such as Shanghai, Karachi, and Dhaka, linking these changes to increased vulnerability to dangerous heat days (above 35°C) and rising energy demands for active cooling.

The document analyzes the trajectory of sustainable urban development, noting that while urban populations are projected to reach 68% by 2050, cities contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. It highlights a divide between the Global North's focus on infrastructure transformation and the Global South's need to 'jump start' sustainable development. The paper identifies key trends such as nature-based solutions, multimodal transportation, and a growing emphasis on equity and inclusive planning to address environmental racism and green gentrification.

The report outlines Indonesia's need for USD 322.8 billion in climate-compatible infrastructure by 2030, focusing on renewable energy, low-carbon transport, sustainable water, and waste management. It highlights a significant financing gap and argues for the use of green bonds, blended finance, and de-risking mechanisms to attract private investment. The document also details the role of the SDG Indonesia One platform and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility in bridging these gaps.

The briefing analyzes the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya and the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail (HSR) in Indonesia, finding that both projects suffered from poor environmental mitigation, problematic land acquisition, and governance failures. It argues that weak recipient institutions in the Global South compound the reputational and material risks for Chinese contractors.

The report inventories 78 support measures for Indonesia's energy sector between FY 2016 and FY 2020, covering oil and gas, coal, electricity, renewable energy, biofuels, and electric vehicles (EVs). It details various mechanisms including direct fund transfers, tax exemptions, and price supports, noting that only 37% of these measures were quantified due to data limitations.

The document analyzes the Jawa-7 project in Indonesia and the Hwange Expansion Project in Zimbabwe. It finds that while Indonesia's more robust regulatory framework and the use of ultra-supercritical technology limited some environmental impacts, Zimbabwe's lack of transparency and reliance on sub-critical technology led to severe pollution and community displacement. Both cases highlight a tension between national desires to exploit domestic coal reserves and international climate commitments, as well as persistent governance issues and a lack of transparency associated with Chinese-led infrastructure lending.

This case study by the Climate Policy Initiative tracks public and private urban climate investment flows in Jakarta between 2015 and 2019, identifying a heavy reliance on public funding and a significant underutilization of private finance.

The report identifies significant financial, regulatory, and awareness barriers that hinder energy efficiency projects in Indonesia, noting that traditional shared and guaranteed savings models are often unsuccessful. It proposes three alternative models—service or device, leasing and purchase, and quality energy service—to reduce perceived risks for investors and clients, while emphasizing the need for stronger government regulation and financial incentives to meet national energy saving targets.

The report finds that Jakarta's urban climate finance from 2015-2019 totaled USD 44.9 billion, heavily dominated by public funding and a single mega-project, the Giant Sea Wall. Despite having the highest fiscal capacity in Indonesia, Jakarta underutilizes private finance, which accounted for only 2% of total climate investment. The study recommends better alignment between the city, the central government, and satellite cities, alongside the adoption of innovative financing tools like green municipal bonds to reduce reliance on central government funding, especially given plans to move the national capital.

The report finds that Jakarta's climate finance from 2015-2019 was dominated by public funding, totaling USD 44.9 billion across 37 projects, with 83% of this amount committed to the controversial Giant Sea Wall project. Despite having the highest fiscal capacity in Indonesia, Jakarta's environmental spending remained low at 8.6% of its budget in 2017-2018, and private sector investment accounted for only 2% of total climate funding. The document recommends better alignment between Jakarta, the central government, and satellite cities, the implementation of climate budget tagging, and the use of innovative financial instruments like municipal green bonds to mobilize private capital, especially in anticipation of the capital city's relocation.

CoastalDEM v2.1 is a high-resolution global digital elevation model (DEM) designed to improve the accuracy of coastal flood and sea level rise assessments. By employing a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on NASA's ICESat-2 satellite lidar data and using NASADEM as a base, it significantly reduces the positive vertical bias common in satellite radar DEMs, particularly in densely populated urban areas where buildings often distort elevation readings. Validation against ICESat-2 and airborne lidar data from the US and Australia indicates that CoastalDEM v2.1 outperforms other leading global models like TanDEM-X and MERIT, especially in the critical elevation band below 5 meters.

The document details the application of reflective cool roofs in Bangladesh and Indonesia, demonstrating significant reductions in indoor and surface temperatures for low-income housing and industrial facilities.

The report investigates the potential for municipal green bonds to support Indonesia's goal of 23% renewable energy by 2025. While provincial governments in Java and Bali generally meet fiscal eligibility criteria, no municipal bonds have been successfully issued as of 2021. Key barriers include complex bureaucratic procedures, a lack of profitable project pipelines, and a conservative investor market primarily motivated by credit ratings and commercial returns rather than green mandates. The authors recommend simplifying issuance requirements, providing clearer central government policy signals, and targeting quasi-government institutions as initial investors.

The 2021 State of Cities Climate Finance report finds that annual urban climate finance averaged USD 384 billion in 2017/2018, which is significantly lower than the estimated annual need of USD 4.5 to 5.4 trillion. Investment is heavily concentrated in OECD countries and China, leaving developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia severely underfunded. The report emphasizes a critical gap in adaptation and resilience finance, which accounts for less than 10% of urban climate finance. To bridge this gap, the report recommends strengthening municipal finance capacities, aligning city and national climate policies, and utilizing innovative financial instruments like blended finance and green procurement.

The 2021 report on the state of urban climate finance reveals a significant gap between current investments and the trillions of dollars needed for urban climate action. While global urban climate funding averaged 384 billion USD per year in 2017/2018, these flows are heavily concentrated in OECD countries and China, leaving rapidly urbanizing areas in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia severely underfunded. The report emphasizes that mitigation efforts, particularly in transport and buildings, dominate current spending, while adaptation and resilience receive less than 10% of funding. To bridge this gap, the document outlines 'enabling conditions' across national, city, and climate-specific levels, urging a systemic approach to align planning, budgeting, and policy to attract both public and private investment.

The document argues that transport is a critical driver of development but a major source of emissions, accounting for 23% of energy-related CO2. It defines sustainable transport as safe, affordable, and efficient mobility that minimizes environmental impacts. The report details the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and provides examples of successful interventions, such as Jakarta's BRT system and various cities' shifts toward active mobility (cycling and walking). It specifically notes the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for structural changes in urban transit, though it warns that 30 major economies continue to provide significant subsidies to fossil fuels over clean energy.

The report examines the intersection of climate change, energy policy, and security in Southeast Asia. It identifies key vulnerabilities, including sea level rise threatening megacities and the Mekong Delta, and extreme heat reducing economic productivity. These stressors are analyzed as 'threat multipliers' that exacerbate existing geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, fuel violent extremism through livelihood degradation, and complicate transboundary water management of the Mekong River. The document also highlights the 'energy-climate security nexus,' arguing that the region's continued reliance on coal and the pursuit of civilian nuclear power—often involving long-term partnerships with China and Russia—create new strategic risks. It concludes with a call for 'Climate Security Watch Centers,' carbon drawdown plans for ASEAN states, and a systemic shift toward renewable energy to ensure regional stability.