Indonesia is facing growing scrutiny over its climate action, as the country falls behind in its mitigation strategies despite a decade passing since the Paris Agreement and that it has yet to demonstrate consistent progress in reducing emissions, raising concerns about its credibility as a climate-conscious nation. 

The delay in submitting its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC) to the United Nations, due by September 30, 2025, further exacerbates these concerns. The submission deadline was extended, yet the Indonesian government still missed the deadline.

Agung Budiono, Executive Director of energy transition promoter CERAH Foundation, highlighted that the delay in submitting the SNDC document not only undermines Indonesia's climate credibility but also exposes a lack of clear direction in the country's climate mitigation planning.

"This delay shows that the Indonesian government has lost its way in climate mitigation planning, as further evidenced by the signing of Government Regulation 40/2025 on the latest National Energy Policy (KEN), which continues to accommodate fossil fuel expansion until 2060," Agung said in a statement on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Nadia Hadad, Executive Director of the Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, urged the government to urgently publish the updated climate targets by releasing the Second NDC before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil.

"This document is not just for global purposes; it is also crucial for strengthening Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable and climate-just development," Nadia said.

According to the report "A Decade of National Climate Action: Stocktake and the Road Ahead" by Deep Decarbonization Pathways (DDP), Indonesia is among the countries lagging behind in translating long-term climate strategies into concrete policies. It faces challenges in overcoming socio-economic barriers related to energy transition and mitigating the climate crisis.

"Countries have begun to overhaul climate governance, integrating long-term perspectives into policy-making and accelerating technological changes. However, lessons from the past decade are clear: to meet the Paris Agreement targets, the next decade must focus on scaling up efforts, addressing social and industrial challenges, and ensuring that ambitions are consistently translated into effective actions," Henri Waisman, Director of the DDP Initiative, said.

Since ratifying the Paris Agreement in 2016, Indonesia has updated its climate ambitions through an NDC aiming for a 31.89 percent emissions reduction domestically and a 43.20 percent reduction with international support by 2030, along with a net-zero target by 2060 or earlier. Strategies such as the Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience (LTS-LCCR 2050), FOLU Net Sink 2030 program, energy transition, and sustainable land-use reforms have been launched. However, Indonesia's heavy dependence on coal, weak infrastructure, and inconsistent regulatory enforcement threaten the credibility of these commitments.

The DDP report also highlights the serious risks Indonesia faces in its energy transition, from continued fossil fuel dependency and limited renewable energy development to a significant climate financing gap. Socio-economic challenges, such as potential job losses in fossil fuel sectors, regional disparities, and energy affordability, further complicate the transition.

Despite these hurdles, the report reveals the potential for green economic opportunities that could create up to 1.8 million new jobs by 2030, particularly in renewable energy, clean transport, and resource-based industries.

Documents revision

Agung stresses the need for Indonesia to revise its electricity planning documents to allow for a more serious climate crisis mitigation plan.

"We urge the government to update planning documents such as the National Electricity Business Plan (RUKN) so that subsequent documents like the National Energy General Plan (RUEN), Regional Energy Plans (RUED), and the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) can better accommodate renewable energy growth and reduce fossil fuel usage, thereby curbing worsening emissions," he said.

The DDP report calls on Indonesia to take action between 2025-2030, particularly in the energy sector. It recommends updating the RUPTL to align with renewable energy targets, tightening regulations on captive coal-fired power plants, and expanding the domestic carbon market with integration into international mechanisms. The report also advocates for faster adoption of low-carbon technologies, mobilizing climate finance through innovative schemes, and improving cross-sector policy coherence.

Energy policies

In addition, Nadia raised concerns over government energy policies that encourage deforestation, such as co-firing biomass with coal in power plants. This policy, she argues, could undermine Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 strategy, which aims for the country’s forests and lands to absorb more emissions than they emit.

"The FOLU Net Sink 2030 target to reduce emissions will not be achieved if energy needs are met by opening up forests. The co-firing biomass target could spur the demand for deforestation to produce raw materials like wood, agricultural waste, or dedicated energy crops," she said.