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The document examines the challenges of Indonesia's transition away from coal, highlighting the severe economic risks to coal-dependent provinces and vulnerable groups. It advocates for a mixed-method approach to planning that combines quantitative economic modelling with qualitative social analysis to ensure that women, youth, and informal workers are not marginalized. Key recommendations include strategic investment in labour-intensive green sectors, tailored social protection, and the empowerment of local governments to manage the transition.

The report analyzes the potential economic shocks of phasing out coal in Indonesia, identifying East Kalimantan as the most vulnerable province. Using a mixed-methods approach, it demonstrates that while mine closures cause significant losses in output and employment, targeted stimulus in the food and beverage and green sectors can drive recovery. The study emphasizes the disproportionate impact on informal workers and women, recommending a transition roadmap that integrates gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) principles and expands social safety nets.

The report identifies critical areas in Indonesia where nature-based solutions (NbS)—specifically the conservation and restoration of forests and coastal ecosystems—can mitigate climate risks such as flooding, landslides, and coastal erosion. Using biophysical modeling, the study finds that protecting just 16% of the country's land area (those most impacted by infrastructure) can support climate resilience for 147 million people and 68% of the road network. It argues for integrating these spatial analyses into 'upstream' national and subnational infrastructure planning to avoid high-risk areas and invest in restoration, which could benefit over half the population and 53% of the road network. The report recommends mainstreaming NbS into the Medium and Long-Term Development Plans and the 2020-2040 Road Network General Plan.

The report by Trend Asia and Walhi Jambi opposes the planned PLTU MT Jambi 1 and 2 projects. It highlights that Jambi already experiences an electricity oversupply, with PLN's capacity at 2,415 MW against a demand of 1,333 MW. The document details the socio-ecological threats to local villages, such as Pemusiran and Lubuk Napal, including water pollution in the Sekamis and Selempado rivers and projected health costs of USD 640 million over 30 years for PLTU MT Jambi 1. It further notes that investors like China Huadian have reportedly withdrawn due to China's policy against building new coal plants abroad, and recommends the immediate cancellation of these projects in favor of renewable energy.

The report examines the proposed construction of the Jambi 1 and 2 mine mouth coal-fired power plants (CFPP), each with a capacity of 2x300 MW. It argues that these projects are unnecessary due to a significant electricity oversupply in the region, where PLN's generating capacity of 2,415 MW far exceeds the community's absorption of 1,333 MW. The document highlights severe social and ecological threats, including the potential for 1,100 premature deaths over 30 years from Jambi 1's pollution and the degradation of the Sekamis and Selempado rivers. It further notes that the projects are primarily designed to create a market for low-calorie coal rather than meet energy needs. Finally, it points to funding instability, specifically the reported withdrawal of China Huadian from the Jambi 2 project following President Xi Jinping's commitment to stop building new CFPPs abroad.

The report argues that the IFC continues to support coal development in Asia by investing in financial intermediaries, most notably the Postal Savings Bank of China. This mechanism allows the IFC to bypass its public commitments to halt coal financing, resulting in indirect support for 68.3 GW of coal-fired power capacity across China, Indonesia, and Cambodia. The document highlights the Jambi 2 project in Indonesia as a primary example of this 'loophole,' detailing the environmental and health impacts of coal mining and power generation on local communities in Jambi province.

The report examines the potential of rubberwood sales to mitigate the financial burden on Indonesian rubber smallholders during the replanting of over-aged, low-yield trees. While selling rubberwood provides some initial capital, the study finds it is insufficient on its own to cover the significant cash shortfalls associated with the five-year immaturity period of new trees. The analysis concludes that a viable financing model must combine rubberwood sales with an agroforestry approach—using intercrops to generate income—and training in good agricultural practices (GAP) to ensure long-term profitability and repayment capacity for smallholders. The report also highlights systemic barriers to finance, including a lack of land titles for collateral and high operational costs for financial service providers (FSPs).

TLFF I Pte Ltd issued a USD95m sustainability bond as part of a larger USD350m project, a joint venture between Michelin and Barito Pacific Group. The proceeds are designated for a sustainable rubber plantation on 34,000ha of degraded land in Indonesia's Jambi and East Kalimantan provinces, with the remaining 54,000ha of the 88,000ha total area dedicated to conservation, aquaculture, land restoration, and smallholder plantations. The Climate Bonds Initiative notes that the project aligns with the Nature Based Assets category of the Climate Bonds Taxonomy due to its focus on sustainable agriculture, nature corridors for endangered species, and restoration of degraded land.

The report finds that Indonesia's SVLK certification system is fundamentally flawed, failing to guarantee that certified timber is legal or sustainable. It identifies systemic weaknesses in audit design, a lack of transparency, and the certification of companies involved in corruption, human rights abuses, and illegal deforestation of protected habitats and peatlands.

The report documents a severe decline in Sumatra's natural forests, which shrank from 25.3 million hectares in 1985 to 12.8 million hectares by 2008/9. This deforestation, driven largely by oil palm and pulpwood plantations, has resulted in massive CO2 emissions from biomass loss and peatland degradation, particularly in Riau Province. The loss of habitat has led to significant population declines in the Sumatran elephant, orangutan, rhinoceros, and tiger, while 17 of 38 eco-floristic sectors are now categorized as threatened. The authors argue that protecting remaining peatland forests and restoring degraded areas are critical for meeting Indonesia's emission reduction targets.