JAKARTA – Indonesia is confident it can achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or earlier, President Prabowo Subianto revealed at a G20 forum, marking a significant acceleration of the nation’s climate goals.
The President highlighted plans to phase out all coal and fossil-fuel power plants within the next 15 years—far ahead of the original 2056 target—and construct 75 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity during the same period.
“We are positioned along the equator, blessed with abundant sunlight for solar energy. Combined with other renewable sources, this gives us the confidence to aim for net zero before 2050,” Prabowo said, reiterating commitments echoed at the COP29 climate summit last week.
Indonesia, the world’s largest exporter of thermal coal and one of the top greenhouse gas emitters, currently derives more than half of its 90 GW installed power capacity from coal, with less than 15% from renewables. The shift to green energy represents a major overhaul of its energy landscape.
The nation’s vast natural resources, including its status as home to the world’s third-largest rainforests, place it in a unique position to combat climate change. However, challenges remain in balancing its economic reliance on coal exports with ambitious sustainability targets.
Environmental experts and climate advocates have welcomed the accelerated timeline but stress the importance of transparent implementation and financing strategies to meet these ambitious goals.