Celios assessed the energy transition proposed by the presidential and vice-presidential candidates as false solutions that will actually cause a climate crisis

The vision and mission of the presidential and vice presidential candidates which promote bioenergy, renewable energy originating from biological sources, actually has a negative impact on the climate, especially due to the use of palm oil.

The Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), Bhima Yudhistira criticized the vision and mission of the 2024 Presidential-Vice Presidential Candidates (Capres-Cawapres) who are encouraging the energy transition, in the ‘Forum of Presidential Candidates’ Green Leadership Ideas and Commitments’ at the Green Press Community event held took place at the Usmar Ismail Film Center Building, Jakarta, Thursday (9/11/2023).

Bhima assessed the energy transition proposed by the presidential and vice-presidential candidates as false solutions that will actually cause a climate crisis

He said that their vision and mission which promote bioenergy, renewable energy originating from biological sources, actually has a negative impact on the climate, especially due to the use of palm oil.

“We need to look at 2022, the push for the implementation of B35 biodiesel has caused a cooking oil crisis,” said Bhima.

“So when we talk about the energy transition, we also need to be careful not to get caught up in solutions that actually worsen the climate crisis,” he said.

“Palm oil, if not careful (its use) triggers deforestation and conversion of forest land.”

Bhima Yudhistira also highlighted the energy plantation forest program. Bhima considers the program to be at odds with the coal-fired power plant early retirement program.

With this program, the coal power plant will not only be extended, it will also sacrifice forests on the islands of Kalimantan to Papua.

Not to mention programs that utilize technology that can store carbon in the soil or carbon capture storage, which according to Bhima is, again, a false solution.

“So we have to distance this energy transition agenda from false solutions. If it is possible, [it must be] a just solution,”  Bhima emphasized.

Green Press Community (GPC) is the first event organized by the Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) to gather ideas and spark a collective movement to preserve the environment in Indonesia.

Starting on Wednesday (8/11), GPC presented various learning sessions, talk shows and conferences involving hundreds of participants from various circles, including the press, non-governmental organizations and students.