Jakarta — Amid COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Greenpeace Indonesia held a protest on November 18 at the Muara Karang gas power station in North Jakarta. They rolled out a “red carpet for fossil lobbyists,” demanding the Indonesian government shift away from fossil fuels and commit to bolder climate actions. This event highlighted concerns over Indonesia’s preference for fossil fuel interests and its delegation, which included 46 fossil lobbyists.
At COP30, Indonesia grabbed attention for all the wrong reasons. On November 15, it received the “Fossil of the Day” award from Climate Action Network (CAN) International for obstructing climate progress. This award is given to countries seen as hindering efforts to combat climate change. CAN accused Indonesia of allowing fossil lobbyists to influence its official policies.
Yuyun Harmono, a climate campaigner from Greenpeace, pointed out the contradiction in Indonesia’s fossil gas policy and its climate promises. Data from CELIOS revealed that expanding gas power by 22 gigawatts could release 49 million tons of CO₂ and nearly 44,000 tons of methane annually. This would dramatically exceed safe levels for the climate.
Despite Indonesia’s rich renewable energy potential—3,600 gigawatts, mostly from solar—the country plans to keep fossil fuels at over 40% of its energy mix until 2034. Yuyun emphasized that the focus should be on solar and wind energy instead of switching from coal to gas.
Back at COP30, CAN called Indonesia “the worst example of corporate capture,” claiming its representatives echoed fossil fuel industry rhetoric in discussions regarding the carbon market mechanism from the Paris Agreement. This alignment with fossil fuel groups like the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) raised red flags about the integrity of climate policies.
CAN estimated that IETA brought 58 fossil lobbyists to the conference, part of a staggering 1,600 fossil lobbyists tracked by the Kick Big Polluters Out coalition—about one in every 25 attendees. Critics argue that this lobbyist influence undermines environmental standards and promotes weaker regulations for carbon markets and nature-based offset projects.
This approach could jeopardize global efforts to curb emissions, allowing polluters to maintain high emission levels under misleading offset schemes. Furthermore, Indonesia’s national electricity plan, RUPTL 2025–2034, proposes adding only 20 to 22 gigawatts of renewable energy—far below the 55 to 82% renewable share needed by 2030 to align with climate targets.
Activists stress that the “Fossil of the Day” award symbolizes a broader gap between climate policy and action in Indonesia. Communities across the country are already facing climate-related challenges like floods and droughts. They argue that policies influenced by fossil fuel interests delay much-needed change.
The “Fossil of the Day” award has its roots in the 1999 climate talks in Bonn. It serves as a barometer for a country’s commitment to climate action. Indonesia’s situation at COP30 exemplifies a worrying trend where fossil fuel influence shapes government policy within international climate discussions, highlighting the urgent need for genuine climate commitment.
For more details on climate action initiatives, you can visit CAN International.
