Climate Science Considerations in Indonesia's President Joko Widodo's Policy on Energy and Climate Change

Indonesia has continuous energy and climate policies in place to solve climate change issue. This paper will review selected highlights from President Jokowi's energy and climate policies which includes the 35000 MW project, New and Renewable Energy (NRE) initiative, fuel subsidy reform, and Indonesia's submission for COP21 Paris Agreement. The policies will be analyzed broadly and in accordance to established climate science knowledges whenever possible. Both intended and unintended consequences of the policies will be discussed.

Some contradictions between energy policy, climate policy, and climate science was found. Further reliance towards coal, the inclusion of unconventional fossil fuel in NRE initiative and the lack of differentiation between land and fossil fuel carbon cycle in greenhouse gas reduction framework is inconsistent with climate change mitigation while fuel subsidy reform has to be appreciated. Consistency of the new administration is needed to keep the effective policies in place and to revise the contradictory policies for effective climate change mitigation efforts.