Amidst the upheaval, one positive outcome did emerge: global carbon emissions dropped by 17 percent, with year-on-year emissions on track to fall by 4 to 7 percent.

Major multilateral organizations have urged countries to leverage this moment to create a new pact between the environment and the economy. Governments and businesses are called to prioritize clean energy as they plan for recovery following the pandemic.

For Indonesia, addressing this challenge is an especially critical undertaking. Beyond COVID-19, the country has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29 percent by 2030. In parallel, by 2025, it aims to have renewables comprise at least 23 percent of its primary energy demand, including 10 percent bioenergy, 7 percent geothermal and 3 percent hydropower.

Transforming Indonesia’s complex energy ecosystem is not something that can be done overnight. The country’s large population, geographic sprawl and growth ambitions require that it rely heavily on readily available but carbon-intensive fuels to meet immediate power demand. Today coal is dominant, accounting for 60 percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Plans to realize Indonesia’s clean energy goals would benefit from a systematic exploration of multiple avenues, making use of existing infrastructure, promoting investment in cutting-edge technologies and developing local capabilities.

To be sure, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is exploring options to increase adoption of renewables. However, building hydropower and geothermal plants requires significant time and money.

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