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This policy brief by Ember responds to Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Progress Report 2025. It argues that Indonesia must adopt more ambitious emission targets, specifically by integrating the captive power sector into peaking emission scenarios and accelerating the retirement of coal plants. The document highlights the potential for solar PV to replace ageing captive coal plants and emphasizes the need for a just transition that provides economic diversification and investment in coal-producing provinces to mitigate fiscal and employment risks.

This report by Ember analyzes the economic and environmental consequences of Indonesia's coal over-expansion. It finds that while production hit record highs in 2024, shrinking demand from major importers like China and India, coupled with rising production costs, is eroding company profits and state revenues. Additionally, the report highlights a significant underreporting of coal mine methane (CMM) emissions, which are projected to increase by 25% by 2030 due to the expansion of underground mining.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the socio-economic challenges of phasing out coal in Indonesia. It argues that while coal mine closures will lead to projected losses in output, income, and employment—particularly in East Kalimantan—these can be mitigated through strategic investment in high-potential green sectors, improved intergovernmental coordination, and the inclusion of informal workers, women, and youth in transition planning.

This report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the potential for repurposing abandoned and soon-to-be-closed surface coal mines into solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. It argues that these sites are ideal for solar development due to their existing proximity to grid infrastructure and the need for land reclamation, offering a pathway to align clean energy goals with local job creation and environmental restoration.

This report by Trend Asia and debtWATCH Indonesia argues that Indonesia's promotion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a 'transitional fuel' and the continued financing of gas projects by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) undermine the Paris Agreement and hinder a genuine transition to renewable energy. The document details the environmental, social, and governance risks associated with gas infrastructure, including methane emissions, corruption, and human rights violations.

This report by Trend Asia and debtWatch Indonesia argues that the promotion of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a "transition fuel" in Indonesia, supported by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), undermines the Paris Agreement and locks the country into long-term fossil fuel dependency. The document details the environmental, social, and governance risks associated with gas infrastructure, including methane emissions, corruption, and human rights violations.

Indonesia's power sector remains dominated by coal, with emissions rising significantly over the last decade. While the government is revising its National Energy Policy, potentially lowering renewable targets for 2025, the report argues that expanding clean energy—particularly in coal-producing regions like East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and South Sumatra—can drive economic growth, create up to 96,000 high-skilled jobs, and attract $9.4 billion in investment, thereby ensuring a more equitable energy transition.

This report by Ember analyzes Indonesia's energy transition, focusing on the RUPTL 2021-2030 and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). It argues that increasing renewable energy ambition, particularly in coal-producing regions, can drive economic growth, create high-skilled jobs, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels while ensuring a just transition for affected communities.

This report by Indonesia Corruption Watch and Trend Asia examines the financial and political networks sustaining the coal industry in Indonesia. It identifies significant funding from state-owned and private banks to coal corporations and argues that regulatory capture and the influence of a wealthy elite are delaying a just clean energy transition.

This report by Ember analyzes the underreporting of coal mine methane (CMM) emissions in Indonesia, arguing that current official figures significantly underestimate the actual environmental impact. The document highlights gaps in the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, the exclusion of underground mines, and the use of outdated emission factors, which may undermine Indonesia's commitments under the Global Methane Pledge.

The report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes global coal mining employment and the necessity of a 'just transition' for workers. Using a new dataset from the Global Coal Mine Tracker, GEM estimates that nearly 2.7 million people are directly employed at operating coal mines. The report warns that hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk due to planned mine closures by 2035 and 2050, regardless of climate policies, and that significantly more layoffs would occur if the world adheres to 1.5°C and 2°C warming scenarios.

This briefing by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) examines the growth of 'captive' coal-fired power plants in Indonesia—off-grid facilities operated by industrial users. It highlights a significant increase in captive capacity, particularly to power metal smelters for nickel and aluminium, which contradicts Indonesia's climate commitments and the goals of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

A report by Trend Asia and Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) investigating potential fraud and irregularities in the procurement of tear gas equipment by the Indonesian National Police (Polri) between 2013 and 2022.

This report by Trend Asia analyzes the environmental risks associated with PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara's (PLN) co-firing policy, which mixes biomass with coal in power plants. The author argues that the massive land requirements for energy plantation forests (HTE) to supply wood pellets will likely lead to significant deforestation, contradicting Indonesia's climate commitments.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative proposes the 'Indeks Desa Membangun Plus' (IDM+), a reformed evaluation index designed to incentivize sustainable land use and environmental preservation at the village level in Indonesia. Using Berau Regency in East Kalimantan as a case study, the report argues that existing fiscal transfer mechanisms fail to reward ecological performance and suggests a mixed fiscal instrument approach to provide both incentives for high-performing villages and affirmative support for those with low ecological scores.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative proposes the Sustainable Village Development Index (IDM+) to integrate environmental sustainability into Indonesia's village-level governance. The authors argue that existing evaluation tools fail to measure ecological performance, leaving villages without clear metrics or fiscal incentives to implement sustainable land use and climate actions. The paper suggests using IDM+ as a basis for Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT) to reward high-performing villages and support those with low performance, using a case study in Berau Regency to demonstrate the mechanism's potential.

The report proposes the Sustainable Village Development Index (IDM+) to bridge the gap between national sustainability goals and village-level action in Indonesia. By adding 10 ecological indicators to the existing Village Development Index, the IDM+ provides a metric for regencies to implement Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT). Using Berau Regency as a case study, the report suggests a mixed fiscal approach—combining performance-based incentives with affirmative assistance—to encourage sustainable land use and climate action without marginalizing low-performing villages.

This statement by the Climate Policy Initiative argues that Indonesia should utilize its COVID-19 stimulus packages to transition toward a green, resilient, and inclusive economy rather than reinforcing fossil fuel dependence. The author suggests three primary adjustments: accelerating green industry growth through fiscal policy, diversifying and decentralizing essential resources like energy and food, and decoupling economic growth from resource use to reduce vulnerability to market shocks.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the Indonesian Village Fund, a fiscal instrument established in 2015 to promote rural economic development and reduce welfare gaps. While the fund has grown significantly in size and provides over 50% of village revenue, the study finds that spending is overwhelmingly directed toward transportation infrastructure rather than sustainable land use or environmental protection. The report identifies critical gaps in technical capacity, regulatory guidance, and coordination between village and district planning, offering five strategic recommendations to align the fund with sustainability goals.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines the financial and regulatory impacts of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms on countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). It argues that ISDS allows foreign corporations to sue governments over public interest regulations, creating significant financial burdens and a 'regulatory chill' that undermines democracy and the right to regulate.