Injustice and Environmental Harm in Extractive Industries and Solar Energy Policies in Indonesia

Dinita Setyawati

doi:10.5204/ijcjsd.1975

Abstract

The rapid development of Indonesia’s economy in the recent decades has accelerated the exploitation of natural resources by the extractive industries and increased carbon emissions through higher energy consumption. Additionally, the persistent enthusiasm for coal energy and the ambitious deployment of renewable energy may have led to injustices in the energy system, short-sighted corrupt practices, and environmental harm. This article examines the challenges and risks of energy source utilization and technological developments linked to coal, geothermal, and solar energy. More specifically, I focused on the following issues: domestic market obligation for coal, geothermal exploration, solar lamp distribution, rooftop photovoltaic policy, and electricity charging stations (ECS). Investigating these issues from an energy justice and a green criminology perspective allowed us to evaluate them concerning instances where injustices (to humans and the environment) have emerged and how they should be addressed. In conclusion, the article demonstrates how the marginalization of rural communities and production of environmental harm has been perpetuated by powerful figures, reinforced since colonialism, and escalated by the demands of the Global North.

Highlights

The rapid development of Indonesia’s economy in the recent decades has accelerated the growth of extractive industries by exploiting natural resources and increasing carbon emissions due to higher energy consumption rates
The coal industry is inextricably linked to Indonesian politics, especially concerning the role that financial contributions play in election campaigns
One definition of injustice within green criminology is the “mistreatment of one of the beings by the hand of the other or the existence of inappropriate guiding principles that lead to systematic unequal treatment” (Goyes, 2019:24)

Summary

Introduction

The rapid development of Indonesia’s economy in the recent decades has accelerated the growth of extractive industries by exploiting natural resources and increasing carbon emissions due to higher energy consumption rates. The formation of these extractive industries began in the colonial period. Extractive industries— coal, oil, and gas—generate considerable employment and a share of significant revenue for the government and corporations They come with high environmental and social costs. It demanded them to stop financing the construction of the Indramayu coal-fired power plant It stated that the project would produce considerable environmental pollution and destroy the livelihoods of thousands of local farmers and fishermen (Indonesia-Japan nongovernmental organization [NGOs] coalition, 2020). This project’s adverse environmental impact will disproportionately affect the local community of Indramayu

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Conclusion