Search Climate Insights Directory

The report 'Boom & Bust Coal 2026' analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants in 2025, highlighting a paradox where global capacity is increasing while actual electricity production from coal is declining. It focuses heavily on the roles of China and India as the primary drivers of new capacity, the shift of coal to a 'system insurance' role, and a detailed critique of Indonesia's regulatory contradictions and the rise of captive coal plants for mineral processing.

This white paper by Trend Asia provides an economic valuation of the potential losses resulting from the Rempang Eco City project on Rempang Island. The report argues that the project, framed as a 'green economy' transition, threatens the livelihoods of indigenous and local communities and causes significant ecological degradation. Through a mixed-methods approach, the research calculates that the total economic value of the island's ecosystems per household is far higher than government claims, and that the potential environmental losses from the project would be more than three times the average household income.

This report by Ember examines the energy demands and decarbonisation pathways for data centres in the ASEAN region, focusing on the intersection of AI-driven growth, tropical cooling requirements, and the availability of renewable energy.

This report examines the rapid expansion of data centres in Southeast Asia and the resulting pressure on power grids. It highlights that while the region is becoming a global hotspot for digital infrastructure, the reliance on fossil-fuel-dominated grids threatens climate targets, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

This report examines the impact of rapid data centre growth in ASEAN on power sector emissions, highlighting that while these facilities could account for 2% to 30% of national power demand by 2030, approximately 30% of this demand could be met by solar and wind power without battery storage. The authors argue for urgent policy interventions, energy efficiency improvements, and expanded renewable procurement options to prevent the digital boom from derailing regional energy transition goals.

A critical report by Trend Asia analyzing the new Government Regulation on National Energy Policy (PP KEN), arguing that it promotes 'false solutions,' extends the use of fossil fuels until 2060, and fails to ensure a just and sustainable energy transition in Indonesia.

This report by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes global coal power trends in 2023, highlighting a contradiction where global operating capacity reached a historic high despite a general decline in new construction outside China. It focuses heavily on Indonesia, where the growth of 'captive' coal plants for industrial smelters and a lack of clear phase-out targets threaten climate goals.

This report, published by Trend Asia and several international partners, analyzes global coal power trends in 2023. It highlights a contradiction where global coal capacity reached a historic high in 2023 despite a general decline in new construction outside of China. The document provides detailed analysis of China's continued expansion and Indonesia's struggle with 'captive' coal plants supporting the nickel industry, which complicates its energy transition goals.

Trend Asia provides a critical analysis of the fourth vice-presidential debate of the 2024 Indonesian election, arguing that the candidates' commitments to energy transition are counterproductive and lack necessary legal and socio-economic safeguards for communities and the environment.

Friends of the Earth International and WALHI denounce the violent repression of residents on Rempang Island, Indonesia, who protested a National Strategic Program to build an "eco-city" without local consent.

Friends of the Earth International and WALHI denounce the violent repression of residents on Rempang Island, Indonesia, who are protesting a national strategic program to build an "eco-city" without local consent.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International and WALHI denouncing the violent repression of residents on Rempang Island, Indonesia, following a National Strategic Program to build an 'Eco-City' without local consent.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the blue finance landscape in Indonesia between 2015 and 2019, focusing on the sources, instruments, and recipients of funding for the blue economy. It highlights the dominance of public international finance and commercial banks, while detailing the significant barriers faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the fisheries sector, including collateral requirements and geographic disparities in loan distribution.

This report evaluates the financial sustainability of Indonesia's electricity sector using the Financial Sustainability Electricity Sector (FSES) framework. It examines the state-owned utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), the role of government subsidies, the expansion of generation capacity through Fast Track Programmes, and the challenges of transitioning to renewable energy while achieving universal electricity access.

The 'Buku Putih Valuasi Kerusakan Rempang Eco City' report challenges the 'green economy' narrative of the Rempang Eco City project, a National Strategic Project (PSN) involving solar panel industry development on 8,142 hectares. The report finds that the average household income of residents (Rp32.77 million/month) is far higher than government claims (Rp3 million/month) and that potential environmental losses (Rp109 million/month per household) vastly outweigh the project's benefits. It documents forced evictions, agrarian conflict, and the criminalization of 43 residents in 2023, concluding that the project creates a 'sacrifice zone' and should be cancelled to ensure socio-ecological justice.