Jakarta, February 27, 2025 – Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, as part of the Women’s Coalition for a Just Energy Transition (Woman for JET), supported the success of the National Conference titled “Women Speak on a Just Energy Transition,” organized by the Asosiasi LBH APIK in Central Jakarta. The event aimed to ensure that Indonesia’s energy transition process is fair and inclusive, particularly in addressing the persistent gender inequality in the country’s development policies.
The two-day conference was attended by representatives from 20 women’s organizations, disability groups, and civil society organizations from across Indonesia. Participants gathered to discuss the concept of ‘justice’ in the energy transition from women’s perspective, identify opportunities and challenges, and formulate recommendations for renewable energy governance that incorporates Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI). The conference also served as a platform to strengthen networks among women’s organizations, disability groups, and civil society in advocating for a just energy transition.
Mouna Wasef, Head of Research and Advocacy at PWYP Indonesia, spoke at a discussion session titled “Creating Gender-Just Energy Transition Regulations.” She highlighted that gender justice in the national energy transition remains suboptimal. One of the biggest challenges is the absence of regulations explicitly emphasizing gender equality and social inclusion in the energy sector, despite Indonesia’s presidential instruction on gender mainstreaming in development.
For instance, civil society groups have proposed, through public hearings and the preparation of Issue Inventory Lists, the inclusion of a Gender Impact Assessment in the draft Government Regulation on the National Energy Policy (RPP KEN). However, these proposals were not accommodated by the government. This is concerning, as RPP KEN is a strategic policy formulated by the National Energy Council (DEN), whose members include government representatives and other stakeholders. Unfortunately, the composition of DEN itself still reflects a significant gender representation gap.
Mouna Wasef explained that the government must be continuously encouraged to implement the principles of energy justice: distributive justice, procedural justice, recognition, and remedial justice. So far, the dominant perspective has been energy security, with coal as the primary source. This has hindered meaningful breakthroughs in increasing the share of renewable energy, even though Indonesia has vast renewable energy potential, declining technology costs, and growing investor interest in the transition agenda.
Mouna also emphasized the importance of women’s active involvement, both in ideas and actions, in advocating for just energy transition policies. She stressed the need to formulate energy and gender justice indicators that can be integrated into these policies. Women’s leadership is essential to drive advocacy efforts at the national, regional, and project levels. By mapping out strategic approaches and spaces for engagement with stakeholders at each level, women can position themselves to play an active and meaningful role in the energy transition process.
Author: Muhammad Adzkia Farirahman
Reviewer: Mouna Wasef