Cali, Colombia – October 31, 2024 –  A new documentary film, “17 Sweet Letters”, invites viewers to explore the other side of environmental protection in Indonesia and question the efficiency of designated protected areas in safeguarding ecosystems and its biodiversity. The film premiere took place on Thursday, October 31, 2024 in Cali, Colombia, the location of the 16th meeting of…

Image of Rawa Tripa burned in 2009, Source: Junaidi Hanafiah/Mongabay Indonesia Indonesia has actively shown its commitment to global biodiversity conservation through participation in various international agreements. One of these commitments is the ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which binds Indonesia to protect biodiversity from exploitation and destruction. Furthermore, Indonesia has developed the Indonesian Biodiversity Strategy and…

Presentation by Monika Maritjie Kailey Saturday, October 26, 2024 — The Indigenous peoples of the Aru Islands, Maluku, Indonesia, are calling for biodiversity protection in their ancestral lands. This peaceful demonstration coincides with the global biodiversity conservation talks at COP16 CBD in Cali, Colombia. Representing the Aru community, Monika Maritjie Kailey is present in Cali to advocate the urgency to…

Cali, Colombia – October 24, 2024 – Nearly 200 countries are gathering in Cali, Colombia, to negotiate efforts to halt and reverse environmental damage and biodiversity loss. Indonesian civil society organizations present in Cali are calling on the negotiating governments and the global community to support the agenda concerning the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LC). The Urgency…

Palu, October 22nd, 2024 — Several civil society organizations from East Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and North Maluku held discussions in accordance to the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) in Cali, Colombia, from October 21st to November 1st, 2024. The civil society organizations held a meeting ahead of the Biodiversity Conference, which…

PONTIANAK – Several civil society organizations and students, united in the “Coalition for Just Energy Transition,” commemorated Big Bad Biomass International Day with a peaceful action at the Digulis Monument roundabout at Tanjungpura University and the West Kalimantan Governor’s Office on Monday (21/10/2024). This action was motivated by government policies related to the use of biomass, particularly wood, in energy…

Gorontalo, October 21st, 2024. The environmental crisis in Gorontalo is becoming increasingly alarming with plans for a biomass-based energy transition project that will convert 282,100 hectares of forest in the province. This project, promoted as a solution for energy transition, is instead evaluated as a significant threat to environmental sustainability and the welfare of local communities. The #SaveGorontalo Coalition, comprising…

Banjarbaru, October 21, 2024. Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka were officially inaugurated as President and Vice President of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 term during a Plenary Session of the MPR RI at the Nusantara Building, Parliament Complex, Jakarta, on Sunday (October 20th, 2024). In his speech, Prabowo emphasized his commitment to prioritize the interests of all Indonesian people without…

Land clearing activities in the natural forest concession of PT. BTL are being used for wood pellet production. JAKARTA – Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) revealed that the forests in Gorontalo Province are threatened by deforestation. This situation is related to the government’s plan to accelerate energy transition projects in Indonesia by using bioenergy products in the form of wood pellets.…

A letter signed by more than 500 scientists and economists in 2021 warned that the European Commission’s mandate to increase renewable energy by 20% would “create a model that encourages tropical countries to cut more of their forests.” Three years later, their prediction is unfolding across Southeast Asia. In particular, their dire warning is illustrated by threats to Indonesia’s forests…

Eudr coalition media briefing in Jakarta, 7 October 2024 The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition, consisting of 45 organizations including NGOs, independent smallholders and plantation worker unions, Indigenous Peoples’ organizations, local communities, as well as representatives of women and youth, issues a joint statement on the importance of improving Indonesia’s commodity governance in facing increasingly stringent global market demands, particularly regarding…

Jakarta, September 12, 2024 – The Coalition of Civil Society for Just Energy Transition has submitted eight quick-win recommendations for the first 100 days of the Prabowo-Gibran administration. These recommendations aim to support the goal of achieving higher quality and inclusive economic growth through the accelerateon of energy transition for a green economy, enhancing community welfare and environmental sustainability, in…