Jakarta, 19 November 2025 – Amidst the ongoing 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, three civil society organisations, namely Aksi Ekologi dan Emansipasi Rakyat (AEER), the East Kalimantan Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM), and the Indonesia Cerah Foundation (CERAH) held a press conference to highlight the contradiction between Indonesia’s climate diplomacy at the global level and its domestic natural resource management practices, particularly in the coal mining sector.

COP30 is an important moment for countries around the world to reaffirm their commitment to phasing out fossil fuels and protecting tropical forest ecosystems. However, Indonesia’s energy and mining policies reveal a contradiction between its climate diplomacy and the reality on the ground.

Presidential Regulation No. 5/2025 and the MSJ Case: An Important Step, but Must Be Comprehensive

Based on AEER data as of January 2025, there are 310 coal mining concessions in East Kalimantan with a total area of 1,517,511 hectares. Of this amount, 667,565 hectares are located within forest areas, including conservation forests and protected forests.

Approximately 507,610 hectares of coal mining concessions in forest areas do not yet have Forest Area Use Permits (Persetujuan Penggunaan Kawasan Hutan / PPKH), thus potentially violating laws and regulations.

Earlier this year, the government issued Presidential Regulation No. 5 of 2025 on Forest Area Control, which formed the basis for the establishment of the Forest Area Control Task Force (Satgas PKH). One of the implementations of this Presidential Regulation was the takeover of 116.9 hectares of mining land owned by PT Mahakam Sumber Jaya (Harum Energy Group) because it was operating without a PPKH.

‘Satellite imagery analysis shows indications of mining activities within forest areas without PPKH by a number of other companies. These findings reinforce the need for a comprehensive evaluation of concessions located within and around forest areas,’ said Riski Saputra, AEER researcher.

According to AEER, this law enforcement measure is important, but it is not enough.

“This Presidential Regulation should not merely be a tool for post-violation control. It must be a preventive instrument, removing entire forest ecosystems from the mining permit scheme before they are destroyed,” Riski emphasised.

AEER asserts that the overlap between coal mining permits and forest ecosystems is a serious threat amid the current climate crisis. Forest ecosystems have high carbon stocks, estimated at hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO₂e, which are at risk of being lost if the clearing of forests for coal mining is not stopped.

The Destructive Impact of Coal Mining in East Kalimantan

In addition to licensing issues, JATAM East Kalimantan emphasises that coal mining operations also have a direct impact on communities at the grassroots level. Mining activities around settlements, gardens and water catchment areas cause increased dust, river pollution, land conflicts and the loss of local and customary communities’ living spaces. JATAM notes that many affected villages are never involved in the licensing process, and when damage occurs, the communities on the front lines find it difficult to obtain protection and restoration of their rights. This situation shows that overlapping permits not only damage the forest ecosystem but also create social injustice.

The extractive industry covers a massive area in East Kalimantan. Mining permits in East Kalimantan, which mainly consist of 5.3 million hectares of coal mines, cover almost 50% of the land area. In addition, 3.7 million hectares of land are used for oil palm plantations. JATAM East Kalimantan emphasises the prevalence of corruption and oppression in the area.

“Coal mining activities have damaged the social, cultural and economic lives of the people of East Kalimantan. Many problems (in the form of damage) have been passed on to the residents of East Kalimantan. Now, the results of this damage, in the form of natural disasters, are becoming more frequent and normal. Meanwhile, law enforcement is still considered ineffective. Even though many children have lost their lives in accidents in abandoned mine pits, the authorities still rarely take decisive action against such incidents,” said Mustari Sihombing, JATAM East Kalimantan Activist.

JATAM East Kalimantan has recorded at least 1,735 coal mine pits that have not been closed and reclaimed. Despite the fact that these pits have claimed many lives, there has been no firm legal action to date.

‘Unreclaimed mining pits have taken away children’s play areas. According to our records, at least 49 lives have been lost due to drowning in coal mining pits,’ he added.

The Contradiction Between Climate Promises and National Energy Policy

Yayasan Indonesia CERAH also highlights the contradiction between Indonesia’s climate pledges at the global level and its domestic policies. While Indonesia has promised to phase out fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy, the National Electricity Business Plan (Rencana Usaha Ketenagalistrikan Nasional / RUKN) still shows the use of fossil fuels for years to come, even until 2060, which sadly coincides with the national Net Zero Emission (NZE) target.

‘The RUKN projections still show the dominance of coal-fired power plants for years to come, which will clearly lock Indonesia into dependence on coal fossil fuels,’ explained Wicaksono Gitawan, Program and Policy Manager at CERAH.

CERAH assesses that this contradiction shows that the direction of Indonesia’s energy transition lacks consistency and clarity of implementation.

“Coal seems to be maintained. The question is, is Indonesia’s energy transition really serious, or just a big promise? Indonesia has agreed to the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition commitment at COP26, but so far, its implementation has been minimal. At COP30, Indonesia is again involved in the Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) initiative. Will it be a repeat of the COP26 experience?” said Wicaksono.

According to CERAH, the government’s seriousness must be demonstrated through domestic policies, not just diplomatic statements.

‘If the President is truly serious, regions rich in fossil fuels must be prepared for the transition, including mitigating the socio-ecological impacts of extraction activities. The energy transition must not change direction every time the government changes. It must be planned as a long-term agenda that protects citizens and the environment,’ he emphasised.

Civil Society Organisations’ Demands

The three organisations called for concrete steps to address overlapping permits and encourage early retirement of coal mines as part of the national agenda for a just energy transition. They urged the government to:

1. Ensure that mining areas taken over by the state are not given to new mining operators, but are restored.
2. Conduct a comprehensive evaluation and audit of coal mining companies located in forest areas that do not yet have PPKH, and publish the results transparently.
3. Encourage the revocation of licences for 36 companies in East Kalimantan that have been temporarily suspended.
4. Revoke licences or reduce concessions in forest ecosystems, especially natural forests and conservation areas.
5. Strengthen the implementation of Presidential Regulation 5/2025 with a preventive, rather than reactive, approach.
6. Stop coal expansion and captive coal-fired power plant projects that prolong Indonesia’s dependence on coal.
7. Ensure that forest protection goes hand in hand with the protection of local and indigenous communities, including through the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).

COP30 momentum: Indonesia must reaffirm its post-coal commitment

In the global context, Indonesia is encouraged to reaffirm its commitment to the no new coal pledge, FOLU Net Sink 2030, and an accelerated just energy transition. The vast extent of forest cover burdened by coal mining permits shows that Indonesia is not yet on a consistent path.

“COP30 provides an opportunity for Indonesia to demonstrate climate leadership. However, this is only possible if domestic practices show the same level of seriousness,” concluded Riski.