Indonesia, comprising more than 17,000 islands and over 270 million people, faces significant challenges in ensuring equal access to essential services, including affordable renewable energy, transportation, and waste management. Marginalized groups, such as primarily rural and remote island communities and urban slum populations, experience chronic barriers to accessing these services, with deep effects on their quality of life.
Rural and remote communities in regions such as Papua, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara face limited or non-existent access to electricity. These populations are typically low-income, with livelihoods heavily dependent on agriculture and fishing, and they often have limited access to formal education. Culturally, they maintain strong communal traditions and indigenous practices. Similarly, the urban poor living in informal settlements around Jakarta, Surabaya, and Medan face unreliable energy supply, poor transportation options, and limited waste management services. These groups often work in the informal economy, earning low daily wages, and many are internal migrants marginalized from formal urban planning processes.
The reasons for this lack of access are multifaceted. Indonesia’s geography makes infrastructure development extremely costly and complicated, especially in remote areas. Economic inequality further exacerbates the problem, as development efforts are concentrated in wealthier urban centers, leaving rural and remote populations behind. Although Indonesia’s national policies, such as the target to achieve 23% renewable energy by 2025, are ambitious, implementation at the local level often fails to reach these marginalized groups. Financial barriers also loom large; although technologies like solar panels and biodigesters are becoming more affordable, the initial investment remains out of reach for low-income households. Cultural barriers and low awareness of renewable alternatives also limit adoption in remote communities.
In the absence of affordable renewable energy solutions, these groups continue to rely on dirty and dangerous energy sources. Rural communities frequently rely on diesel generators, kerosene lamps, and firewood, while slum dwellers often depend on precarious and often illegal electricity connections or expensive, polluting backup generators. These traditional energy sources contribute to indoor air pollution, increase fire hazards, and impose ongoing financial burdens.
The lack of access to renewable energy, transportation, and waste management critically affects the quality of life of marginalized groups. Children have limited educational opportunities due to the inability to study after dark. Health risks rise from air pollution and unmanaged waste, increasing vulnerability to diseases. Income-generating activities are limited because reliable energy is essential for tasks such as refrigeration, lighting, and operating small businesses. Furthermore, the lack of safe and reliable transportation hinders mobility, access to employment opportunities, and participation in broader economic activities.
To address these issues, the Indonesian government has introduced several national initiatives. The National Energy Policy (KEN) aims to promote renewable energy, especially in underserved areas. Programs like the Bright Indonesia Program (Program Indonesia Terang) aim to electrify remote villages through decentralized renewable energy systems, including solar mini-grids and micro-hydro power plants. Waste management improvements are outlined in the National Waste Management Plan (Jakstranas), aiming to increase recycling and waste collection services. Urban transportation projects, such as the TransJakarta bus rapid transit system and the promotion of electric vehicles, demonstrate progress, although they primarily benefit large cities.
However, challenges remain. Inadequate funding, bureaucratic delays, and a lack of local capacity often hamper implementation. Sustainable change will require greater investment in community-driven, localized renewable energy projects, affordable micro-financing for solar adoption, expansion of public transportation into poorer suburbs and villages, and stronger participatory planning with marginalized communities.
By closing the gap in access to renewable resources and services, Indonesia can not only improve the living conditions of millions of its citizens but also advance toward its national sustainability and development goals.
This post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Indonesia Country Manager Netra Naik.