The Indonesia Update conference will explore Indonesia’s approach to tackling climate change, examining both existing and planned mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Navigating climate change in Indonesia: Mitigation and adaptation pathways
Evidence of the harmful impacts of rising global temperatures—driven by carbon emissions—are well documented, sparking global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Major emitters face mounting pressures to reduce emissions.
By the late 2000s, Indonesia had become one of the world’s top ten carbon emitters, drawing international attention during COP 2007 in Bali and prompting calls for stronger action. In 2009, at the G20 Summit, Indonesia announced its commitment to reduce emissions. The country submitted its first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) in 2016 and strengthened its commitments with the Enhanced NDC in 2022, pledging to cut emissions by 31.9% independently and up to 43.2% with international support by 2030. Indonesia has also set a net-zero target by 2060.
These commitments reflect both global pressure and the government’s recognition that climate action can attract investment and support inclusive, equitable growth. Yet, critical questions remain: Can Indonesia meet its targets while sustaining economic development and social justice? What obstacles must be addressed to achieve these ambitions?
The upcoming Indonesia Update conference will discuss these issues, examining Indonesia’s mitigation and adaptation strategies and their societal, environmental, and development impacts. Sessions will discuss topics such as energy transition, forest governance, and adaptation efforts in rural and urban contexts. The conference will also consider how these strategies intersect with gender equality and social inclusion.
Image: PLTS Terapung Cirata/PLN Indonesia
Convenors
The 2025 Indonesia Update will be convened by Daju Resosudarmo and Budy P. Resosudarmo.
Program
The final program with speaker bios and abstracts can be found through this link.
Registration
The event will be held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online participation options available. Please find the relevant links below:
Indonesian sign language and simultaneous translation into Indonesian will be available online.
About the Indonesia Update
The Indonesia Update is the largest annual conference on Indonesian society outside of Indonesia and dates back to 1983. Held in September, it is organised by the ANU Indonesia Project in collaboration with the ANU Department of Political and Social Change. This year marks the 42nd Indonesia Update.
The Indonesia Updates are designed to provide comprehensive overviews of developments in Indonesia and to present wide-ranging discussions on a theme of particular interest each year. They cater to an audience that includes government officials, academics, teachers, members of business and non-government organisations, students and others. Each year, an expert group of speakers from Indonesia, Australia and elsewhere is assembled. The Indonesia Update is structured to encourage discussion and questions from the audience.
The Update proceedings will appear in the Indonesia Update series. Since 1994, the proceedings have been published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore, in collaboration with The Australian National University.