AGP Executive Report

Bali Anti-Tourism Push: Three environmental groups staged a protest in Central Denpasar, urging authorities to halt further tourism development over farmland loss, waste and groundwater strain. Nusantara Forest Under the Microscope: As Indonesia’s new capital advances in East Kalimantan, researchers and Indigenous Balik residents are recording rainforest sounds to preserve a biodiversity baseline before construction changes the ecosystem. Climate Stress in Southeast Asia: A new study warns warming plus habitat damage could push forest understory heat to dangerous levels within decades, raising thermal stress for species. Borneo Restoration Insight: In Malaysian Borneo, cutting back aggressive climbing vines in logged forests helped canopies recover up to three times faster than enrichment planting, offering a cheaper restoration path. Energy Transition Tensions (B50): The government says B50 biodiesel is safe after extensive testing, but critics warn logistics and palm oil demand could complicate food and supply pressures. Captive Coal Risk in Aluminium: A report flags large captive coal capacity tied to aluminium processing, warning Indonesia’s downstream push could lock in more off-grid emissions. Public Health & Mosquito Risk: Dengue is surging in Cambodia, with families reporting delayed care—an urgent reminder for the region’s monsoon-season preparedness. Governance & Social Policy: Indonesia is prioritizing family planning for the lowest-income households to cut unmet contraceptive needs and support stunting reduction.

Jakarta Pollution Risk: A new Center for Global Development study finds 52% of Jakarta schools sit within 5 km of documented heavy-metal contaminated sites, with nearly 370 schools within 1 km—raising concerns for lead, mercury and cadmium exposure. Geothermal Gender Impacts: Investigations into Indonesia’s geothermal push under the 2025–2034 plan highlight recurring environmental, economic and social burdens on communities, assessed through an Oxfam gender impact framework. Waste Management Crackdown: Indonesia’s Environment Ministry says almost no landfills operate properly, with open dumping still common; it has issued 314 administrative sanctions to regional governments for noncompliance. Biodiesel Reality Check: Reporting on Indonesia’s mandatory B50 biodiesel rollout flags hidden costs and supply pressures behind the policy’s promised jobs and emissions cuts. Nickel Circularity Push: BRIN-developed nickel ore processing claims up to 98% material recovery, aiming to cut waste and improve resource efficiency via a modified Caron approach. Air-Heat Warning: El Niño forecasts point to an unusually strong 2026 event, with knock-on risks for drought, extreme heat and monsoon disruption across the region.

Forest & Land Fires: Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry is shifting from reactive firefighting to structural prevention ahead of an expected early, prolonged dry season, including audits of fire-control tools, cloud seeding, peatland groundwater monitoring, and faster deployment to high-risk zones. Biodiesel & Transport Emissions: PT KAI North Sumatra has moved from B40 to Biosolar B50, reporting smoother operations and up to 10.5% lower excess exhaust emissions, with wider adoption aimed at cutting millions of tonnes of CO2. Blue Economy Support: Indonesia approved subsidised fuel for medium-sized fishing vessels (30–200 GT) to cut operating costs and strengthen food security, with distribution rules to prevent misuse. Waste-to-Energy Push: Danantara’s Phase 2 waste-to-energy projects selected eight partners across Medan, Bekasi, Lampung, Serang, Semarang, Surabaya, Bogor 2 and Yogyakarta. Carbon Markets: Indonesia is expanding forest carbon trading, enabling issuance of forestry carbon units for international carbon markets and opening participation for social forestry groups. Air & Health: Jakarta and Dhaka both faced unhealthy air readings regionally, underscoring the public-health stakes of pollution and haze. Policy & Industry: Indonesia is tightening chemical management to align with OECD standards, aiming for safer, more competitive, and more investable industry.

Biodiesel & Palm Oil: Indonesia launched the mandatory B50 biodiesel rollout (50% vegetable oil blend) aiming to cut diesel imports and boost CPO value, but industry warns sustaining it will require higher crude palm oil output as El Niño could hit harvests. Credit & Climate Finance: Bank Indonesia highlighted S&P’s affirmation of Indonesia’s BBB rating as stable, pointing to policy coordination and fiscal discipline—important backdrop for funding the climate transition. Circular Economy & Plastic Pollution: A regional OECD-linked report flags that only 12% of plastic waste in South and Southeast Asia is effectively recycled, pushing packaging redesign and mono-material approaches to match real collection and recovery systems. El Niño Risk: Coverage ramps up on a “super” El Niño forecast, with knock-on effects for extreme weather and food-price shocks. Waste & Air Health: A Jakarta-area landfill fire story underscores how open dumping and weak landfill management can turn into toxic smoke crises. Biodiversity & Land Rights: Lawmakers urged a fact-finding probe into alleged rights violations in a Borneo timber conflict, tied to deforestation concerns and Indigenous land overlap. Blue Economy: Indonesia will host an ASEAN-ID blue economy forum in Banyuwangi, spotlighting marine conservation tied to fisheries and local livelihoods.

Waste-to-Energy Push: Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara has picked conditional winners for eight waste-to-energy project clusters across 20 cities/regencies, following the Bali groundbreaking, with partners including SUEZ, Veolia, Everbright and local groups. Coastal Climate Risk: A minister warns Jakarta faces critical risk from rising seas and land subsidence, pointing to strict spatial planning and water management plus a planned “Giant Sea Wall” along Java’s north coast. El Niño Watch: NASA and NOAA say El Niño is strengthening toward “very strong” levels, with Indonesia facing suppressed rainfall—raising knock-on risks for weather and shipping. Orangutan Protection: Indonesia is preparing an 87,000-hectare orangutan conservation area in East Kalimantan to improve habitat connectivity and rescue efforts. Wildlife Conflict: Conservationists in Riau deployed tiger trap cages after a Sumatran tiger killed two people, underscoring habitat loss pressures. Food System Boost: The free nutritious meal program has engaged about 148,000 local suppliers, aiming to strengthen rural food supply chains. EU Palm Oil Rules: The EU’s deforestation law will start covering more palm oil derivatives from Dec 2027, while leather is exempted—shaping Indonesia’s export compliance plans.

Waste & Plastics Policy: Indonesia’s Environment Ministry is drafting extended producer responsibility rules that would require plastic-packaged goods makers to fund collection and waste management via local packaging recovery organizations, aiming to create green jobs. Urban Waste Overhaul: The government targets fixing waste management in 40 major cities by 2028, prioritizing the biggest landfill sites and aiming for major progress by 2027. Wildlife Protection: Forestry officials are preparing an 87,000-hectare conservation area in East Kalimantan to strengthen orangutan habitat protection. Elephant Conservation Push: Indonesia has launched a nationwide campaign to protect critically endangered Sumatran and Bornean elephants, including ecological corridors and coordinated enforcement. Climate Risk Readiness: A regional expert warns El Niño could bring haze and water stress like 1997–98, urging standby disaster response and stronger coordination. Health & Resilience: The Health Ministry and Takeda announced a plasma-derived medicinal product ecosystem with an initial US$30m investment. Food Systems: The free nutritious meals program is engaging about 148,000 local suppliers, increasingly through cooperatives to support rural economies. Energy Transition: Indonesia rolled out nationwide B50 biodiesel and a phased E5 bioethanol program to cut fuel imports and boost domestic renewable supply. Conservation Tech/Industry: Tetra Pak and Jealsa unveiled carton packaging for shelf-stable tuna, positioning it as a more paper-based alternative for Southeast Asia’s tuna market. Disaster Update: A magnitude 5.1 quake hit Central Sulawesi, killing a hospital patient during evacuation and damaging buildings.

Landfill Fire & Open Dumping: A major landfill fire near Jakarta has reignited calls to end open dumping. Experts warn methane from decomposing waste makes such fires “inevitable,” while Indonesia still relies on open dumping at hundreds of sites despite a 2013 ban. Climate Risk & El Niño Watch: Forecasters say this year’s El Niño could become among the strongest on record, with central Pacific sea temperatures already at record warmth—raising stakes for Indonesia’s weather extremes. Aquaculture Animal Welfare: A report alleges Indonesian shrimp farms use eyestalk ablation to boost female reproduction for export demand, with critics linking the practice to animal pain and broader sustainability concerns. Plastic Waste Policy: Indonesia’s Environment Ministry is drafting an Extended Producer Responsibility rule for plastic packaging, using producer-funded Packaging Recovery Organizations to manage waste and create green jobs. Carbon Trading Reform: A new carbon trading regulation is said to have restored investor confidence by easing how carbon projects register and trade credits. Wildlife & Conservation: Indonesia is stepping up protection for elephants, while separate coverage highlights conservation urgency for species facing habitat loss. Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Indonesia plans a gradual 1% SAF bioavtur blend on international flights from Soekarno-Hatta and Bali starting in 2027, pending supply readiness. Biodiversity & Heat: Broader reporting on rising tropical nights underscores growing health risks from warming—relevant for Indonesia’s climate adaptation planning.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Indonesia’s Environment Ministry is drafting a producer-funded waste rule under Extended Producer Responsibility, pushing plastic packaging waste management to be financed by industry via a Packaging Recovery Organization (PRO), with nearly 10,000 large factories expected to participate and potential “green jobs” created. Climate Justice in Policy: Environmental groups are urging Indonesia to align climate laws with an International Court of Justice advisory opinion, arguing the carbon market should not crowd out protections for vulnerable communities. Circular Economy Push: Recycling industry groups in Indonesia are calling for removal of a 2.5% import duty on aluminium scrap to cut input costs and strengthen domestic recycling and manufacturing. Wildlife Conservation by Incentives: In Indonesian Borneo, a program pays residents for verified wildlife photos via a mobile app, generating large sighting datasets and encouraging communities to curb illegal hunting. Air Quality Watch: Monsoon rains improved Dhaka’s air to “moderate,” while Jakarta was also among areas forecast for cloudy to partly cloudy conditions, with some regions warned about haze and heavier rain. Maritime Safety & Trade Lanes: The IMO adopted a Singapore-led resolution, backed by Indonesia and Malaysia, to keep key shipping lanes open, safe and accessible—highlighting seafarer well-being and rules-based navigation.

Wildlife Trade Scrutiny: A U.S. Interior official linked to a commercial lemur-breeding business is reportedly set to lead the U.S. delegation to CITES talks in Geneva, raising ethics and endangered-species concerns. Borneo Community Conservation: In Indonesian Borneo, locals are paid for verified wildlife photos via a mobile app, generating about 175,000 records in a year and helping deter hunting and forest clearing. Orangutan Protection, Reframed: The same program highlights a gap between past spending and orangutan declines, while experts warn such incentives may be hard to sustain long term. Carbon Markets Move Forward: Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry says it will issue its first forestry carbon credits under a national framework, using Verra standards and registering credits in its carbon unit system. El Niño Watch: NOAA warns this El Niño is strengthening toward “very strong” levels, with major knock-on risks for droughts, heat waves, and extreme weather. Heat Risk for Cities: An Oxford study finds most of the world’s highest heat-risk cities cluster in South and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, including many places with limited coping capacity. Air Pollution Snapshot: Dhaka’s air quality improved to “moderate” after rain, while Jakarta still ranks among the more polluted cities on the day. Creation Care in Flores: A Marian pilgrimage on Indonesia’s Flores island explicitly ties devotion to caring for the integrity of creation, linking faith events with ecological responsibility. Palm Oil Bioenergy Push: Indonesia promotes palm oil bioenergy and downstream processing, including the B50 biodiesel program, as part of energy security and farmer-welfare goals.

Digital & Culture: Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister urged countries at the WSIS Forum to treat digital transformation as a way to protect culture and local knowledge—not just chase economic gains. Palm Oil & Energy: The B50 biodiesel push is framed as a win for energy security and farmer welfare, with the agriculture minister pointing to rising CPO output and expanding domestic biodiesel use. Creative Economy: The Culture Ministry is partnering with Lippo Malls to grow talent, expand market access, and strengthen local intellectual property through curated programs. Climate Cooperation: Megawati Soekarnoputri proposed deeper Indonesia–Timor-Leste climate action, including joint work to tackle El Niño drought risks. Air Pollution Watch: Rain improved Dhaka’s air quality to “moderate” (AQI 86), while Jakarta also appears among the more polluted cities in the global ranking. Waste & Health: A major landfill fire near Jakarta has been extinguished after more than a week, with authorities reporting evacuees returning and health impacts tracked. Water & Drought: Lombok’s southern rice areas face recurring dry-season water shortages, with the Meninting Dam highlighted as a long-delayed fix. Aviation & Connectivity: Indonesia Aero Summit 2026 focuses on strengthening the aviation ecosystem for sustainable passenger connectivity and cargo logistics.

Jakarta Landfill Fire: A week-plus blaze at the Jatiwaringin landfill near Jakarta has been extinguished after burning about 15 hectares, following a two-week emergency and hundreds of respiratory illness cases from toxic smoke. Water Security in Lombok: Five new dams were inaugurated to boost food, water, and energy self-sufficiency, with Meninting Dam in West Lombok highlighted as a way to reduce dry-season water shortages and raise irrigation output. Elephant Protection Order: Indonesia’s president has instructed cross-ministry action to protect Sumatran and Bornean elephants, including wildlife corridors and conservation areas along migration routes. Climate and Heat Impacts: A new report links climate-driven heat stress to lost working days in agriculture and construction across countries including Indonesia, hitting household incomes and budgets. Carbon Markets (Indonesia–Singapore): Indonesia and Singapore signed a carbon credits collaboration MOU, but it’s not yet an Article 6 deal—more like the legal groundwork for future credit trading. Biodiversity Conservation: Indonesia is stepping up protection for elephants, while global science reports a high-resolution seagrass map showing most seagrass loss happens outside marine protected areas. Sustainable Fisheries Access: Small-scale fishers still struggle to reach bigger markets due to weak traceability and cold-chain infrastructure, with financing seen as a key lever to improve supply chains.

Water Security Push: President Prabowo inaugurated five dams (Meninting, Rukoh, Keureuto, Jlantah, Sidan) in West Lombok and beyond, aiming to boost irrigation, raw water supply, flood control, and renewable energy—plus a reminder to keep them properly maintained. Forest & Land Fire Readiness: The Environment Ministry named three top fire-prone provinces (Riau, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra) and is driving revegetation and peatland restoration, including a plan to plant two billion trees in high-risk areas. Wildlife Protection Decree: A presidential instruction orders cross-ministry action to protect Sumatran and Kalimantan elephants and their migration routes, including corridors and habitat adjustments for roads and plantations. Waste & Health: Indonesia set a 2027 deadline to end open dumping landfills, moving regions to controlled or sanitary sites and tightening fire prevention ahead of El Niño dryness. Landfill Fire Update: A Jakarta-area landfill fire (Jatiwaringin) has been extinguished after more than a week, with evacuees returning and authorities investigating the cause. Misinformation Watch: Viral claims of an elephant rescuing a tiger in Indonesian floodwaters were flagged as AI-generated, not real. Climate Signal: NOAA says El Niño is rapidly intensifying toward “very strong” levels, with major impacts expected in fall and winter.

Carbon Markets & Governance: Indonesia launched the Carbon Unit Registration System (SRUK), with Forestry approvals for four entities (three concession-scale PBPHs and one social forestry group) to start carbon trading, aiming to channel green investment to community-based environmental programs. Carbon Removal Deals: Thryve.Earth secured first corporate offtakes for 650,000 tons of nature-based carbon removals, including Google, McKinsey, and Tencent, tied to rainforest restoration in Sulawesi. Waste & Health Crisis: A Jakarta-area landfill fire entered its second week, covering about 15 hectares and triggering hazardous air readings; health teams examined hundreds of residents for breathing problems. Climate Extremes Watch: NOAA says El Niño has an 81% chance to become “very strong” by fall, with major drought-to-heat and heavy-rain impacts likely in the region. Biodiversity & Forest Risk: Mongabay reported a palm oil supplier was dropped after investigations linked deforestation to orangutan habitat in Indonesian Borneo. Energy Transition Push: Indonesia’s carbon trading and OJK-linked ecosystem efforts are framed as public-welfare focused, while Prabowo’s B50 biodiesel program signals continued biofuel momentum.

Waste Crisis in Jakarta: A landfill fire near Jakarta’s Jatiwaringin has burned for eight days, spreading over 15 hectares and displacing hundreds, with toxic smoke driving a rise in respiratory illnesses. Clean Energy Push in Bali: Indonesia’s Bali broke ground on its first waste-to-energy plant, aiming to cut landfill waste, lower emissions, and support tourism with construction expected to finish in about two years. Regional Climate Risk: El Niño is expected to persist into 2027, with Indonesia facing drier conditions that could worsen heat and disaster risks. Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Pertamina signed an MoU with Boeing to explore building a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Indonesia, focusing on feedstocks, technology, and policy. Biodiversity & Conservation: IUCN launched a new phase of its Blue Natural Capital Finance Facility, backing local coastal and small-scale fisheries projects, including work in Indonesia’s Nusa Penida. Uranium Deal With Climate Angle: Australia agreed to export uranium to India for peaceful nuclear power, alongside cooperation on renewables and green hydrogen.

Landfill Fire Crisis: A mountain of rubbish at Jakarta’s Jatiwaringin landfill has burned for over a week, spreading across roughly 23 football pitches and triggering health fears as toxic smoke drives respiratory illness spikes and forces hundreds to flee. Waste-to-Energy Push: In Bali, Danantara broke ground on the Denpasar Raya waste-to-energy plant, aimed at cutting landfill waste and generating power for tens of thousands of households, with operations targeted for 2028. Climate Litigation: Ten Bali residents filed the island’s first climate lawsuit, asking courts to halt new fossil fuel projects after 2025 floods, arguing land-use failures and weak climate policy worsened disaster impacts. Extreme Weather Watch: BMKG warned eastern Indonesia to prepare for cyclone Bavi’s indirect effects, including strong winds and high waves across several provinces. Biodiversity & Marine Protection: IUCN highlighted progress toward strengthening Coral Triangle marine protected areas via the IUCN Green List, pushing for better governance and effective conservation outcomes.

Waste & Health Crisis: A landfill fire at Jatiwaringin on Jakarta’s outskirts has burned for eight days, spreading over 15 hectares and sending thick toxic smoke into nearby communities, with hundreds reporting respiratory problems and dozens diagnosed with acute respiratory infections. Disaster Watch: BMKG recorded a 5.5 quake in the Sunda Strait (no tsunami risk), with shaking felt in parts of Banten and West Java. El Niño Update: BMKG says dry conditions are intensifying as El Niño strengthens, with most of Indonesia seeing low rainfall and many areas entering very long dry spells. Volcano Alert: Mount Anak Krakatau erupted again in the Sunda Strait, sending a 100m ash plume skyward; authorities keep the alert status and urge people to stay away. Policy for Cleaner Cities: Indonesia is pushing household waste sorting as the key step to make Waste-to-Energy work, with Bali highlighted for upstream waste changes. Climate Signals Beyond Indonesia: A WMO report warns the Southwest Pacific is getting hotter, more acidic, and more dangerous for coastal communities, and flags a nearby tropical glacier in Indonesia at risk of disappearing soon. Online Pollution & Consumer Safety: A watchdog says mercury-laced skin lighteners are still being sold online despite bans, raising both health and environmental concerns.