Environment 2 - Indonesia at Melbourne

Planetary urbanisation: Why Indonesia destroys its green islands to ‘green’ cities elsewhere

Today, urbanisation occurs on a global scale. It is taking place not only within cities and urban areas but even in many non-city zones that serve as ‘operational landscapes’ for supplying cities’ demands. This concept of ‘planetary urbanisation’ explains how non-urban realms in the Global South have played a strategic role as operational landscapes supporting cities in the Global North.

Indonesia’s palm oil win against EU: a triumph for the Global South and climate justice?

Analysis, Environment, Natural Resources

The palm oil dispute between Indonesia and the EU is certainly about trade, but it is more than that; it is also about setting rules, valuing voices, and defining global sustainability.

Beyond religious tolerance: What the Pope’s visit really means for Indonesia

Environment, Religion, Society

There is debate about Pope Francis’ stance in many different areas, and criticisms too. But, so far, he has been a pope who very clearly emphasises social justice and environmental sustainability as means of caring for the poor in his messages.

Talking Indonesia: farming Indonesia with Rebecca Meckelburg

Analysis, Environment, Policy in Focus, Talking Indonesia

In this week’s episode, Dr Jacqui Baker chats with Dr Rebecca Meckelburg, a research fellow at the Institute of International Studies at Gadjah Mada University, to better understand how big state projects for agricultural transformation impact the lives of ordinary rural communities.

NU’s gambit with coal: What’s really at stake?

Environment, Religion

The controversial policy of the outgoing Joko “Jokowi” Widodo government to grant coal mining concessions to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) — Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization — is posing a serious threat to the country’s efforts in the fight against global warming.

What does the EU’s new deforestation regulation mean for Indonesia?

Economy, Environment

The EU’s recent deforestation initiative, as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), poses a significant challenge to countries with a comparative advantage in commodity-based sectors, like Indonesia.

Is Mohammad Hatta’s cooperative economic vision still relevant today?

Economy, Environment, History

Muhammad Hatta was a forward-thinking intellectual whose ideas regarding collaborative economics prefigured today's degrowth movement. His economic ideas present a viable and fair alternative to the capitalist paradigms driving social inequality and environmental degradation.

China-Indonesia economic cooperation cannot continue to overlook human security

Economy, Environment, Foreign Policy

For national elites, China is now widely seen as a providential partner whose capital and technology are pivotal for a development agenda centred on infrastructure, digitalisation and downstreaming activities. But while Chinese funding has helped Indonesia rise up the value chain, it is clear this comes at a high cost to local people and the natural environment.

Talking Indonesia: energy transition

Economy, Environment, Talking Indonesia

In the recent national elections, the candidates paid surprisingly little attention to one of the greatest challenges Indonesia and the world at large is currently facing – that of climate change. What are Indonesia’s stated commitments and ambitions towards an energy transition away from fossil fuels? Does it have a plan to get there? And what will it take?

Posted in: Environment