Those who are informed tend to be more interested in learning about JETP programs, critical, and can oversee policy-making processes.
A recent study by the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) and UniTrend — involving 1,245 respondents from various regions in Indonesia between March and April 2023 — revealed that 76% of respondents did not know about the Just Energy Transition Partnership, or JETP for short.
The survey titled “Public Opinion on JETP” involved 60% female and 40% male respondents. As many as 48% came from urban areas, 29% from rural areas, and 23% from suburban areas. The survey was conducted through Facebook and Instagram ads applications.
JETP is also organized to protect people affected by the energy transition, ranging from formal and informal workers, low-income groups, and vulnerable groups such as women, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Adhityani Putri, Director of Communications, JETP Secretariat
Ignatius Ardhana, a UniTrend researcher explains that the majority of respondents who did not know about JETP are from rural areas (40%). While those in the low-income category — earning below or up to IDR2 million per month — which accounts for 33% of the respondents — are in the dark about the program.
UniTrend is a data collection initiative by the Gajah Mada University’s Institute for Policy Development to support data-based policy development.
Interestingly, the survey found that the majority of respondents who knew about JETP are 15-34 years old. Meanwhile, 79% of women knew about JETP programs, while only 69% of men did.
Ignatius concludes that respondents who know about JETP are more critical and can oversee policy-making processes.
“There is a tendency to more attentiveness among those who are familiar with JETP. They know what it means. After knowing the purpose of JETP, 75% are interested in learning what programs are included,” Ardhana said, on Wednesday (5/7/23).
The survey also found that 32% of Indonesians believe coal utilization is the biggest obstacle to energy transition efforts. However 9 out of 10 respondents agreed with accelerating coal-fired power plant closures.
By profession, 60% of respondents who work in the informal sector have higher levels of concern about the government’s efforts to simultaneously develop new and renewable energy sources and gradually retire coal power plants.
Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of Celios says the survey was held to encourage meaningful and participatory community involvement in energy transition programs in Indonesia.
JETP agendas, he says, need to be discussed inclusively, whether that be in providing funds for renewable energy generation at the community level, preventing false solutions, or ensuring that no workers are left behind in the coal power plant early retirement process.
“So there needs to be meaningful and participatory involvement, especially the community at the site level, directly and indirectly affected,” said Yudhistira.
Following the findings of the survey, Celios and UniTrend proposed a number of recommendations, including:
Encouraging community involvement, especially vulnerable communities who experience negative impacts of energy transition program preparations.
Strengthening the role of civil society communities in the process of drafting energy transition policies and data collection to produce inclusive, effective, and impactful policies.
Gradual retirement of coal power plants coupled with appropriate compensation and incentive schemes for vulnerable communities significantly affected by the retirement program.
Encourage capacity-building programs for vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas, and apply a gender lens when designing development programs in the renewable energy sector.
There is a tendency to more attentiveness among those who are familiar with JETP. They know what it means. After knowing the purpose of JETP, 75% are interested in learning what programs are included.
Ignatius Ardhana, Researcher, UniTrend
JETP is a US$20 billion funding program launched on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali in mid-November last year.
The four JETP targets are electricity sector emissions peaking in 2030 or sooner than the initial projection, electricity sector emissions not exceeding 290 million tons of CO2 in 2030, achieving net zero emissions for the electricity sector in 2050 — 10 years earlier than the initial projection, and achieving a renewable energy mix of 34% in the electricity sector by 2030.
Adhityani Putri, Director of Communications at the JETP secretariat, who attended the launch of the survey says that the JETP planning has sought inputs from various parties, including local governments and civil society elements.
“JETP is also organized to protect people affected by the energy transition, ranging from formal and informal workers, low-income groups, and vulnerable groups such as women, people with disabilities, and the elderly,” said Putri.
By August 16, 2023, the JETP secretariat targets the completion of the Comprehensive Investment and Policy Plan (CIPP) document.
This document will contain three main principles which are positive contributions to the economy and ensuring energy affordability; ensuring energy security and transmission grid stability; and making sure that shared targets and carbon emission reduction efforts are in line with government ambitions.
