A Socially Equitable Energy Transition in Indonesia

Tackling climate change will not be possible without a significant contribution from Asia. According to economic forecasts, Asia’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions will grow dramatically in the coming decades. There is a growing interest in renewable energy in many parts of Asia. Greater use of renewable energy may lead to more socially and environmentally just energy structures.

In Indonesia, despite huge potential of various renewable energy sources across the country, its economic architecture still depends heavily on fossil-fuel based production and consumption. Having considerable fossil fuel resources has been a barrier to exploring renewable energy. Hydropower, wind, solar, and ocean currents could be used for electricity, but this potential is just beginning to be recognized.

The focus of the study has been to observe how an energy transitions towards greater use of renewable energy could be socially and politically accepted in Indonesia. Energy is a sensitive issue in Indonesia and has often been used to promote populist agenda. Against this background, we need to explore more about the actual social and political contributions, costs and implications of renewable energy expansion in Indonesia.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung has examined these questions with a series of country studies in Asia. The studies look at the political and social factors that drive—but also hamper—socially just energy transitions. The contributing countries are China, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.