ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — As Indonesia prepares to submit its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC) to the upcoming COP30 UNFCCC in Brazil, civil society groups are calling for a stronger, fairer, and more transparent climate commitment.
Tifa Foundation and the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Justice (JustCOP) criticized Indonesia’s current SNDC draft as lacking in transparency, social justice, and public participation.
The SNDC — a key policy document defining the country’s low-carbon development pathway — should reflect Indonesia’s leadership in inclusive and equitable climate action, they said.
However, civil society groups believe the draft fails to ensure public accountability and justice for affected communities.
“Indonesia’s climate commitment must be built upon social and ecological justice for all,” said Firdaus Cahyadi, Program Officer for Natural Resources and Climate Justice at Tifa Foundation on Friday, October 24, 2025.
“The government must strengthen the SNDC’s substance to guarantee citizens’ rights and uphold public accountability.”
Tifa Foundation outlined four key principles that must be embedded in the SNDC to ensure that Indonesia’s climate transition benefits its people rather than displacing them:
1. End forced evictions in the name of energy transition.
Climate mitigation and renewable energy projects must not be used as a pretext for land grabbing and social exclusion.
“Evictions under the banner of ‘energy transition’ undermine communities’ adaptive capacity to the climate crisis,” Firdaus said.
2. Make the SNDC a guiding document for national development.
The SNDC must not remain a mere diplomatic formality.
“It should bind all ministries to shift away from extractive and exploitative development models,” he emphasized.
3. Ensure full transparency and meaningful public participation.
The government must provide accessible information and act on citizens’ feedback.
“Participation must be substantive, not ceremonial. Transparency legitimizes climate policy,” he added.
4. Broaden the concept of a just transition.
The “Just Transition” must encompass not only labor rights but also the protection of Indigenous peoples, farmers, and local communities affected by so-called “green” projects.
“Addressing the climate crisis must go hand in hand with human rights and social justice. The SNDC must serve as a document that protects the people,” Firdaus concluded.
JustCOP Coalition: SNDC Process Lacks Transparency and Public Involvement
The JustCOP Coalition, a network of Indonesian civil society organizations advocating for rights-based climate governance, also voiced concern over the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s (KLHK) limited consultation process.
“Meaningful participation is impossible if the public cannot even access the document,” said Nadia Hadad, Lobby Team Coordinator for JustCOP and Executive Director of Madani Berkelanjutan.
“Participation must occur before decisions are finalized, not as a formality after the fact.”
JustCOP described the public consultation held on October 23, 2025, as more of a one-way socialization rather than a true participatory dialogue — a missed opportunity to build consensus and legitimacy.
Still Reliant on Coal and Gas: Emission Targets Deemed Unrealistic
Substantively, JustCOP noted that Indonesia’s SNDC continues to prioritize fossil fuels, undermining its emission reduction goals.
Despite setting ambitious targets, the government still plans to build 6.3 GW of on-grid coal power plants, 20 GW off-grid, and 10.3 GW of gas-based plants.
“With such a structure, Indonesia’s emission reduction targets are practically unattainable. The SNDC looks more like an international showcase than a genuine commitment,” said Iqbal Damanik, Climate and Energy Manager at Greenpeace Indonesia.
Furthermore, the SNDC exempts nickel and steel industries—two major emission sources—from decarbonization obligations, revealing a trade-off between climate ambition and the pursuit of 8% economic growth.
Economist: Indonesia Misunderstands Green Growth
Economist Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of CELIOS, argued that Indonesia’s development model misinterprets the concept of “green growth.”
“Decarbonization can actually stimulate growth, create jobs, and reduce inflation,” Bhima explained.
“But the government remains overly dependent on extractive sectors, making deep emission cuts after 2030 unrealistic.”
Both Tifa Foundation and JustCOP Coalition urge the government to revise and strengthen Indonesia’s SNDC before submission to COP30.
They stress that Indonesia’s global climate leadership will only hold meaning if it is grounded in transparency, participation, and social justice.
“Indonesia has the potential to lead global climate action, but only if its SNDC truly serves the people — not just the numbers,” said Firdaus Cahyadi. (AT Network)
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