Bogor – Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, in collaboration with Sahita Institute/HINTS, Transnational Institute (TNI), Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI), Indonesian Student Union (SMI), Progressive Student Union (SEMPRO), National Trade Union Confederation (KSN), People’s Struggle Union (KPR), and Sembada Bersama, held a national meeting titled the Green Industry National Symposium in Bogor from July 1-3, 2025.
The symposium aimed to strengthen the capacity of grassroots movements to respond to global economic and political dynamics, particularly in the context of industrialization and globalization. It also served as a platform to document strategic issues and formulate alternative movement strategies to support grassroots organizations in addressing economic and political challenges related to the green industry.
Key issues discussed included geopolitical and geo-economic shifts and their impact on industrialization, how nations should respond to these changes, strengthening public control in industrial development, and exploring alternative economic models for inclusive and equitable development.
PWYP Indonesia’s Deputy Director, Meliana Lumbantoruan, facilitated a discussion on the strategic role of industrialization for the nation, particularly in the context of the global energy transition. She highlighted how countries in the Global South are often compelled to remain suppliers of critical minerals and low-cost labor, serving the interests of international capital. This pressure on strategic raw material supplies has fueled a wave of extractivism, giving rise to a new form of resource plundering known as green colonialism.
In response, several countries in the Global South have begun adopting national industrialization policies, such as downstream processing and domestic mineral refining, as part of their efforts to transform their economies and break structural dependency, thereby enhancing their position in global supply chains. However, these policies are often accompanied by increased authoritarian state control, restrictions on public participation, and the perpetuation of capital accumulation by a small elite.
Therefore, it is crucial to frame the energy transition as part of a broader industrial and economic transformation agenda, especially in Global South countries still trapped in structural economic dependency. The energy transition should not be reduced to merely a technological or climate issue, but recognized as a battleground for geopolitical struggles and debates over development pathways. Cross-movement discussions on industrial policy and a just transition agenda are vital steps toward building a shared understanding and collective stance to drive social change.