Research area
Just Energy Transition
Just energy transition desk provides analysis of pathways to achieve Net Zero Emission goals without damaging indigenous community livelihood, biodiversity, and challenging false solution.
Sulawesi Has Exceeded Its Environmental Carrying Capacity as Extractive Industries Continue to Expand
Jakarta, 15 September 2026 — A new study by the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) finds that Sulawesi has exceeded its environmental carrying and assimilative capacity. Based on a multidimensional assessment of air, water, land, social conditions, and policy controls, the island recorded an aggregate score of 4.5 out of 5, placing it in the “beyond limits” category. The report, Beyond Limits: The Failure of Environmental Carrying and Assimilative Capacity (D3TLH) to Control the Expans
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High Potential, Low Prosperity: Structural and Regulatory Gaps in Rural Renewable Energy Transition
Indonesia’s renewable energy transition is leaving rural communities behind. A new study by CELIOS finds that despite Indonesia’s enormous renewable energy potential, structural inequality, weak regulation, and extractive economic dependence continue to hinder equitable energy access in villages. The report documents several alarming trends between 2021–2024. Household solar adoption declined by 26.3%, biogas utilization dropped by 19.8%, and community-scale micro-hydro development fell by 10.1%
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INDONESIA’S NICKEL: What Is Seen and What Remains Buried
Indonesia sits at the center of one of the most consequential resource stories of our time. As the world's largest nickel producer, it holds a pivotal position in the supply chains feeding the electric vehicle boom — a position its government has worked deliberately to strengthen through downstream processing mandates and a rapid buildout of smelting infrastructure. Nickel exports have climbed sharply over the past five years, and on paper, the country looks like a rare winner in the global clean energy transition.
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Leveraging the London Metal Exchange: Turning Indonesia’s Minerals into Premium Low Carbon Assets
As Indonesia solidifies its position as the epicenter of the global critical minerals landscape, new challenges have emerged in ensuring that our mineral wealth translates into fair, resilient, and sustainable economic value. While downstreaming policies have successfully increased domestic refining capacity, the market volatility experienced throughout 2025 and early 2026—marked by production halts in several RKEF lines—underscores the urgent need for a more robust global pricing and diversific
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Why Food Estates Are Not the Answer for Food and Energy Security
A new CELIOS report reveals that the Merauke food estate and bioethanol program could cost more than US$11 billion, while posing major risks to forests, local communities, and public governance. The study argues that Indonesia should prioritize cleaner, more cost-effective pathways to strengthen long-term food and energy resilience. CELIOS-Food Estate Not The Answer April 2026 Download
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Village Energy Transition Readiness Index 2026
CELIOS, in collaboration with Greenpeace, has released the 2026 Village Energy Transition Readiness Index report, which shows that the readiness of villages in driving the clean energy transition in Indonesia continues to face structural challenges and significant regional disparities. This study measures the readiness of villages and urban wards ( kelurahan ) for the energy transition through three main dimensions: clean energy initiatives, economic resilience, and village governance capacity
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Indonesia–US Trade Agreement Challenged in Court, Civil Society Coalition Warns of Risks to Economic Sovereignty
A civil society coalition consisting of CELIOS, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Solidaritas Perempuan, and supported by WALHI Nasional and Trend Asia has officially filed a lawsuit for Unlawful Government Act (Onrechtmatige Overheidsdaad) against the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN) on March 11, 2026. The lawsuit challenges the President’s decision to sign the Indonesia–United States Reciprocal T
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