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

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.

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Except where otherwise noted, content in this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Published: 2022-03-01
Pages:14 to 27
Section:Special Issue: Green Criminological Dialogues
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How to Cite
Setyawati, D. . (2022) “Injustice and Environmental Harm in Extractive Industries and Solar Energy Policies in Indonesia”, International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 11(1), pp. 14-27. doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.1975.

Author Biography

Kyoto University
 Japan

Dinita Setyawati studied at Global Environmental Policy Lab, Kyoto University. She began her career in 2005 as a producer for Indonesian political television series at QTV, then in the British Embassy Jakarta as a political analyst. In 2018, she established Communicate ID, a women's community network specializing in disaster response and humanitarian work. Dinita has a master's degree in Southeast Asian studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her research interests include environmental politics, environmental crimes, and energy policies in Asia. Currently, she is also active as an independent researcher and consultant based in Japan and Indonesia.