Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | 18:14 WIB

Rebranding Indonesia’s Bioenergy: A Call for a Just Energy Transition Partnership

Jakarta, IO – Indonesia, with abundant natural resources and a commitment to sustainable development, has identified bioenergy as a strategic resource helping it to achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets. However, the current dominance of palm-based biodiesel presents environmental and social challenges.

To overcome this, we must revise the image of Indonesia’s bioenergy sector and support a just energy transition. This opinion article advocates for the formation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P), a strategy intended to unlock Indonesia’s bioenergy potential, promote social justice and create a sustainable future for all. 

Indonesia’s bioenergy sector holds great promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diversifying its energy mix. However, current over-reliance on palm-based biodiesel has led to deforestation, habitat loss and land rights conflicts.

In addition, community-based bioenergy production and feedstock diversification have been neglected, due to lack of support and market uncertainty. It is time for a transformation in the bioenergy landscape, one that prioritizes environmental sustainability and social inclusiveness. 

Rebranding Indonesia’s Bioenergy 

Rebranding Indonesia’s bioenergy sector is critical to addressing existing challenges and ensuring a just energy transition. By embracing alternative raw materials, such as agricultural residues and inedible feedstocks, we can reduce the environmental footprint of bioenergy production.

Additionally, rebranding can stimulate community-based initiatives, create rural jobs, and empower local communities to participate in the bioenergy value chain. It is through this transformation that we can promote an inclusive and sustainable bioenergy sector. 

An equitable energy transition requires an integrated approach, one that considers social, environmental and economic aspects. Community engagement and social equity should be central to the development and implementation of bioenergy initiatives.

In addition, new governance arrangements along with collaboration between actors and innovative business models can enable multi-stakeholder participation and ensure a fair distribution of benefits. This holistic approach will promote inclusivity, empower marginalized communities, and ensure that the bioenergy transition leaves no one behind. 

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