Indonesia has vast potential in renewable energy. Unfortunately, its utilization is still minimal compared to non-renewable fossil resources. The government aims to reduce carbon emissions amid the threat of deforestation from national strategic food projects.
Therefore, the government is urged to stop the destruction of natural forests and carefully assess the land requirements for national food production to avoid future environmental damage.
This was highlighted during the Bestari Special Ramadan Lecture organized by the Board of Professors of State Legal Entity Universities (MDGB-PTNBH) titled ‘Energy Crisis, Environmental Issues, and Disasters’ held on Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2025, on UGM’s YouTube channel.
One of the speakers, micro-hydro power developer Tri Mumpuni, emphasized that Indonesia possesses significant renewable energy resources that have not been optimally managed.
However, the government continues to rely on inefficient and unsustainable energy systems despite the untapped potential for renewable energy.
According to Mumpuni, an energy democratization policy is needed to allow communities to participate in developing and managing their energy resources.
This approach would promote sustainable development and empower communities to be more self-reliant in managing their own resources.
“Energy democratization provides space for communities to build themselves, while the government simply needs to provide infrastructure and open access for them,” said Mumpuni.
Meanwhile, UGM Forestry Faculty Professor San Afri Awang highlighted Indonesia’s current challenges, including deforestation, climate-related disasters, and the renewable energy transition.
He stressed that forest resources play a critical role in supporting sustainable development, and thus, their monitoring and management must be thoroughly implemented.
Professor Awang also explained that deforestation in Indonesia has reached alarming levels, with 261,575 hectares lost in 2024.
This figure is expected to rise with the National Strategic Project, which plans to open 3 million hectares of land from 2025 to 2029.
This contradicts the government’s target of reducing emissions by 31.8-43.2% by 2030.
He questioned whether this target would be achievable if the National Strategic Project continued.
“Stop the destruction of natural forests and honestly calculate the land needed for national food production,” he concluded.
UGM Geography Faculty Professor Muhammad Baiquni echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that development must consider environmental carrying capacity.
He warned that if the environment can no longer withstand damage, it could lead to disasters that threaten human life.
Ecological crises could also trigger economic crises, particularly in countries like Indonesia, which rely heavily on natural resources.
“We must learn from 1997-1998, when a prolonged drought followed the monetary crisis. It caused many people to suffer from hunger, crop failures, and had widespread economic impacts. We certainly do not want to repeat the problems of the past,” Professor Baiquni stated.
Author: Tiefany
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang
Image: Freepik