Kelastambang: The kumparan Green Initiative Conference 2025, held on Sept. 17–18 at Hotel Borobudur Jakarta, presented a multi-sectoral roadmap for Indonesia’s transition toward 100 percent clean energy, highlighting strategic efforts in energy transition, circular economy, and green financing.
Organized by digital media platform kumparan, the two-day conference convened stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society to discuss policy directions, innovation, and financing models to support sustainable development over the next decade.
Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, delivering a keynote speech on the second day, said Indonesia generates around 143,000 tons of waste daily, with less than 15 percent currently managed by local governments. He warned that unmanaged waste contributes to environmental degradation and heightens disaster risks.
To address this, Hanif said the government is promoting the adoption of waste-to-energy technologies in urban areas producing over 1,000 tons of waste per day. He added that this must be integrated with circular economy principles to reduce long-term waste burdens.
“Waste-to-energy is not everything. We must develop a circular economy that processes waste into valuable resources and reduces overall waste generation,” Hanif said.
Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang, in a separate keynote address, emphasized that industrial transformation must align with green principles. He noted that industrial waste should be treated as a potential resource that can be processed into alternative raw materials or clean energy sources.
“Green industry is a concrete step to support circular economy. Industrial waste must be viewed as an opportunity to generate new value,” said Agus.
A panel on ESG standardization in Indonesia’s mining sector discussed the importance of integrating environmental, social, and governance practices into long-term strategies. The session featured Djoko Widajatno from the Indonesian Nickel Miners Association, Dr. Martha Tri Lestari from Telkom University, and Dr. Ir. Mahawan Karuniasa from the University of Indonesia.
Mahawan said ESG compliance must go beyond formal requirements and be seen as a foundation for sustainability and community welfare. He warned that without strong standards, industries risk falling into practices of greenwashing or green colonialism.
“With ESG compliance, Indonesia’s mining industry can gain global market access while ensuring sustainable resource management and community impact,” Mahawan said.
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono also addressed the conference, stressing that economic development must be inseparable from environmental sustainability.
“Climate crisis is not a future threat — it is a reality we face today,” Agus said, calling for urgent investment in green innovation, sustainable spatial planning, and resilient infrastructure.
He added that inclusive sustainability requires cross-sector collaboration involving government, private sector, academia, and local communities.
The kumparan Green Initiative Conference 2025 was supported by PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, ASTRA, Bakti Lingkungan Djarum Foundation, PT PLN (Persero), Blibli, Harita Nickel, MIND ID, Bank Mandiri, Telkom Indonesia, Telkomsel, Pagatan Usaha Makmur, PT Alamtri Resource Indonesia, Pupuk Indonesia, and Makmur Bersama Indonesia.
The event concluded with a shared call to accelerate Indonesia’s clean energy transition through coordinated action and innovation across all sectors.