Jakarta – A just energy transition must position women and vulnerable groups as primary actors, not merely as beneficiaries. Without genuine participation and social inclusion, the energy transition risks creating new inequalities.
This message was one of the central ideas in the anthology book Nyala Inklusi: Women and Vulnerable Groups at the Forefront of the Energy Transition, launched by Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia in Central Jakarta on 9 March 2026. The book launch also formed part of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 commemoration, held in conjunction with a discussion titled “Women’s Leadership and Local Community Voices in Realizing a Just Energy Transition.”
The book launch served as an important opportunity to share reflections and showcase real-world practices from various regions in Indonesia on implementing an inclusive energy transition.
Several speakers attended the event, including Zoe Spriet-Mezoued, Head of Strategic Communications and Campaigns and Gender Focal Point of the Resource Justice Network (RJN); Sripeni Inten Cahyani, Member of the National Energy Council (DEN); Rina Prasarani, Chairperson II for Advocacy and Awareness Raising of the Indonesian Women with Disabilities Association (HWDI); Mikewati Vera Tangka, Secretary General of the Indonesian Women’s Coalition (KPI); and Dian Amalia Ariani, who is also one of the book’s authors.
The initiative to compile this book arose from Indonesia’s current critical phase of accelerating its energy transition. However, in practice, the process is considered not yet fully inclusive or equitable.
Women, indigenous communities, local communities, persons with disabilities, and the younger generation are still often positioned merely as groups affected by policies, rather than as main actors or decision-makers. Therefore, this book provides a platform to convey aspirations and push for a fairer energy transition.
The anthology contains writings from various regions across Indonesia, depicting real on-the-ground conditions, including criticisms of how the energy transition is being carried out. The book asserts that the energy transition is not merely about shifting production, technology, and consumption from fossil fuels to renewables, but also about addressing social justice and including vulnerable groups.
In many energy transition projects, women, local communities, persons with disabilities, and youth are still often viewed only as affected parties. Yet these groups play crucial roles in determining the success of the transition.
Women, for instance, have direct experience in managing household energy and local economic activities. This gives them practical knowledge about community energy needs. However, in policy practice, women’s voices are still rarely included in planning forums or renewable energy technology training.
Other vulnerable groups—such as persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and youth—also face numerous structural barriers. Many energy policies are not designed with accessibility, social needs, or the sustainability of local livelihoods in mind. Consequently, large-scale energy projects frequently trigger forced relocations, loss of livelihoods, and marginalization in decision-making processes.
Amid these realities, the book also promotes key advocacy agendas to achieve a just energy transition. One is the integration of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles into energy policies. Community participation must be genuinely meaningful, with women, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and youth involved from the planning stage. Additionally, public consultation mechanisms need to be made more inclusive, transparent, and accessible to vulnerable groups.
The book also underscores the importance of energy democratization and social protection during the transition process, including financing support for community-based energy initiatives and training programs in renewable energy technology open to women and persons with disabilities.
Commenting on the book’s content, Zoe Spriet-Mezoued noted that the energy transition carries significant risks if it focuses solely on mineral exploitation without community involvement. This aligns with the various stories featured in the book.
“The energy transition is not only about replacing technology but also about shifting power, who gets to make the decisions. If marginalized groups are not involved, this transition could become a new threat to them,” Zoe said during the launch.
Echoing this view, National Energy Council (DEN) Member Sripeni Inten Cahyani stressed that a just energy transition can only be achieved if a gender perspective is integrated across all stages of development, from policy formulation to monitoring. She highlighted that women are still often positioned merely as energy consumers, despite their strategic role when given space in decision-making.
“It is important to create opportunities for women to be better facilitated in policy-making, and to ensure that Gender and Inclusivity (G&I) analysis is incorporated in detail into national energy programs and funding,” she said.
This book is a compilation of the best writings selected from hundreds of submissions to PWYP Indonesia in an open essay writing call themed “Women and Local Communities at the Forefront of an Inclusive and Just Energy Transition,” held from May to November 2025.
“This book is dedicated to the entire community, especially women who are fighting for the energy transition in Indonesia and around the world. We hope it can provide valuable input for all of us,” said PWYP Indonesia National Coordinator Aryanto Nugroho, closing the book launch, which was also part of the IWD 2026 commemoration.
Writer: Ariyansyah N Kiliu
Reviewer: Mouna Wasef