AGP Executive Report

Indonesia–Germany Green Partnership: President Prabowo met German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Jakarta, reaffirming cooperation on energy transition, climate action, skilled workforce training, and strategic minerals like nickel, with Indonesia urging Germany to help speed up the Indonesia–EU CEPA deal. Waste & Water Innovation: An Unand researcher in West Sumatra developed low-energy anammox wastewater treatment using locally sourced microbes, aiming for an Indonesia-suited reactor design. Plastic Pollution: A new global study finds food and beverage plastics dominate shoreline macroplastic litter across 112 countries, including Indonesia—researchers warn production cuts are needed, not just waste management. El Niño Risk for Food: Southeast Asia faces El Niño conditions that could disrupt monsoon rains, raising the odds of delayed planting and higher food prices, with rice and palm oil especially exposed. Biodiesel Push: Indonesia’s railway operator KAI is moving toward full B50 biodiesel use by July 1, 2026, as part of broader emission-reduction plans. Marine Life Under Threat: An investigation links squid fishing fleets’ intense night lighting to dead dolphins, turtles used as bait, and labor abuse—highlighting urgent enforcement gaps. Youth & Digital Safety: Britain announced a ban on social media access for children under 16, reflecting growing pressure to protect young people from addictive and harmful online content.

Climate & Weather: El Niño has been officially declared, with warnings it could intensify into a “super” event—raising the odds of extreme weather across the region. Coastal & Marine Impacts: New reporting flags coastal erosion risks: about 35% of Indonesia’s coastline faces moderate-to-very-high erosion, and beach destinations across Southeast Asia are already seeing shoreline shrinkage. Land Restoration: Indonesia launched a national bamboo planting drive aimed at restoring 12.4 million hectares of degraded land, starting with thousands of bamboo trees in Bogor. Wildlife Under Threat: Recent studies and reports highlight deadly extreme rainfall and cyclones pushing Indonesia’s rare orangutans closer to extinction, including losses tied to the Tapanuli orangutan. Energy Transition & Food Security: With oil prices rising, biofuel demand is expected to surge—raising food-price concerns—while Indonesia also moves to reduce import dependence in sectors like dairy. Governance & Investment Transparency: Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara says it will disclose investment data more transparently after a Prabowo directive to boost investor confidence. Research Capacity: Indonesia selected Piriou to build two research vessels for BRIN, expanding deep-sea and coastal ocean observation capabilities.

Food Security & Climate Risk: Indonesia is pushing to cut import dependence in dairy, with officials saying the country produces about 1 million tonnes of milk yearly versus demand of 4 million tonnes, leaving roughly 80% met via imports—an exposure that could worsen during global disruptions. Marine Science & Blue Economy: BRIN has selected French shipbuilder Piriou to build two research vessels for Indonesia—one deep-sea ocean-going platform and one coastal research ship—aimed at strengthening ocean and climate observation. Energy & Emissions (Jakarta): Jakarta’s World Environment Day lights-off drive cut emissions by 60.14 tons CO2e, saving 75.18 MWh of electricity during the one-hour blackout. Mangroves Restoration: The environment ministry says about 700,000 hectares of Indonesia’s mangroves are damaged and needs urgent restoration, with mangroves highlighted as major carbon sinks. Wildlife Under El Niño: New research links climate-driven landslides to the deaths of at least 50 Tapanuli orangutans, pushing the world’s rarest great ape closer to extinction. Sustainable Tourism: Indonesia’s Clean Tourism Movement is being intensified nationwide, focusing on waste management, less single-use plastic, and better cleanliness facilities. Clean Tech & Hydrogen: BRIN developed a NiFe-LDH/AgPO composite to improve clean hydrogen and oxygen production via water splitting.

Climate & Food Security: Indonesia’s rice-stock reassurance is challenged by a Tempo fact check, warning that not all reserves are immediately available for distribution and that prolonged El Niño-linked drought could still threaten future supply. Waste & Marine Pollution: The Marine Affairs and Fisheries ministry is preparing incentive and disincentive schemes for regions to cut waste leakage into the sea, targeting the land-based sources of plastic pollution. Sustainable Tourism: Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry is expanding the Clean Tourism Movement nationwide, pushing better waste management, less single-use plastic, cleanliness facilities, and behavior change. Biodiversity Under Stress: A study highlights how extreme weather is pushing the world’s rarest great apes closer to extinction, including deadly impacts on orangutans in Sumatra. Energy Transition & Research: BRIN developed a NiFe-LDH/AgPO composite aimed at boosting clean hydrogen and oxygen production via water splitting. Green Hydrogen Tech: (Same BRIN item) Wildlife Conservation: Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau reports the birth of a healthy Sumatran elephant calf, adding hope for a threatened population. El Niño Watch: Multiple reports underline El Niño’s growing likelihood and the high cost of disrupted weather patterns. Regional Energy Integration: ASEAN’s power-grid push is framed as a key step for energy security and sustainable transition across borders.

El Niño Watch: NOAA has officially declared El Niño underway, with a high chance of very strong conditions this season—raising fears of costly extreme weather and disrupting rainfall patterns across Asia, including Indonesia’s wider climate risk. Marine Waste Policy: Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries is preparing incentive and disincentive schemes for local governments to cut marine pollution, targeting the estimated 20 million tons of waste entering the sea each year. Wildlife Under Climate Stress: A cyclone in Sumatra killed about 58 Tapanuli orangutans (around 7%), underscoring how extreme rain and landslides are pushing the world’s rarest great ape closer to extinction. Biodiversity Protection: Kutai National Park in East Kalimantan is protecting key flora species and mangrove ecosystems, while Tesso Nilo National Park in Riau reports a healthy Sumatran elephant calf born in the wild. Air Pollution in Jakarta: Jakarta’s air quality has been recorded as unhealthy (PM2.5 far above WHO guidance), with residents urged to wear masks and limit outdoor exposure. Energy & Environment: Indonesia is also moving on waste-to-resilience guidance for islands and is linked to broader regional debates on energy transition pressures from Middle East supply shocks.

Air Pollution Watch: Jakarta’s air quality hit unhealthy levels (PM2.5 at 102 µg/m³; IQAir index 184), with residents urged to wear masks and limit outdoor activity. Wildlife Enforcement: Indonesia foiled an attempt to smuggle nearly 100 protected birds out of Papua, expanding investigations to dismantle the trafficking chain. Climate Risk & Biodiversity: Research links extreme rainfall and landslides to the deaths of about 58 Tapanuli orangutans (roughly 7% of the species), underscoring how “super” El Niño-style shocks can push already fragile populations closer to extinction. Disaster Response Tech: Starlink and the U.S. State Department signed a two-year deal to use low-orbit satellite links to restore communications after natural disasters, building on Starlink’s prior crisis support in Indonesia and the region. Transport & Emissions: Indonesia is expanding its rail network to 10,524 km to cut logistics costs and congestion, with passenger numbers rising year-on-year. Illegal Wildlife Trade: Authorities also continue crackdowns tied to online and offline demand for rare species.

Climate & Disaster Risk: NOAA has officially declared El Niño underway, with forecasts warning it could intensify fast and reach “super” levels—raising the odds of extreme weather, food disruption, and drought/flood swings across regions that include Indonesia. Biodiversity Under Pressure: New research links Cyclone Senyar’s extreme rainfall in November 2025 to the deaths of about 58 Tapanuli orangutans (roughly 7% of the species), underscoring how climate-driven storms can hit already-fragmented habitats with catastrophic speed. Labor & Platform Economy: The ILO adopted Convention No. 193 on decent work in the platform economy, setting binding standards for gig workers worldwide—covering pay, safety, social security, and how algorithmic management classifies workers. Waste & Plastics: A solar-powered “rubbish-eating” boat concept by Ocean Cleanup is highlighted for intercepting plastics and microplastics in waterways, aiming to tackle some of the most-polluted city sources. Energy Transition & Food Security: Reporting notes rising oil prices are pushing biofuel demand higher, with experts warning this can tighten fertilizer and food supplies—raising food-crisis concerns for countries including Indonesia.

Climate Risk Watch: NOAA says El Niño has officially begun, with a 63% chance it turns “very strong” by Nov–Jan and could reach historic intensity—raising odds of hotter temperatures and more disruptive weather that can hit food and livelihoods across the tropics. Biodiversity Under Pressure: Indonesia’s rare orangutans are again in the spotlight as extreme rainfall and floods are linked to mass losses, with studies pointing to deadly impacts from storms and landslides. Air Quality Alert: Dhaka is reported as the world’s 5th most polluted city (AQI 117), while Jakarta tops the list in the same reporting—another reminder that regional air pollution is a public health issue, not just a statistic. Green Tech Push: Indonesia’s Environment Ministry urged youth to adopt green technology at Invirotech 2026, showcasing innovations from waste and wastewater control to pollution monitoring and renewable energy. Energy Transition Reality Check: Indonesia’s 100 GW solar plan is framed as ambitious but implementation-focused concerns remain, especially around how rural cooperatives will execute projects at scale. Marine Habitat Restoration: DP World launched a global seagrass restoration effort off Geoje Island, aiming to restore 2.4 hectares over four years to support biodiversity and blue carbon.

El Niño Watch: NOAA says El Niño has officially begun and could strengthen into a “very strong” or “Super” event, with a 63% chance by Nov–Jan—raising odds of drought and heat in parts of Asia and shifting rainfall patterns that can hit Indonesia’s agriculture and water security. Wildfire Preparedness: Indonesia has dispersed 11 tons of salt over Aceh to trigger artificial rain and curb wildfire risk as the dry season approaches, aiming to protect peat areas and reduce hotspots. Orangutan Crisis: Deadly floods and landslides in Sumatra linked to extreme rainfall killed an estimated 58 Tapanuli orangutans—about 7% of the species—highlighting how climate-driven disasters and habitat loss are pushing the critically endangered ape closer to extinction. Conservation Court Move: Walhi has intervened in a government lawsuit seeking damages and restoration against pulpwood firm PT Toba Pulp Lestari, arguing the case must better account for impacts on orangutan and tiger habitats. Policy & Data: Indonesia is adopting WIPO’s Creative Economy Data Model to strengthen data-driven planning and track creative-economy performance. Food-Energy Hub Push: Indonesia’s government is accelerating the National Food, Energy, and Water Production Hub (KSPEAN) in South Papua through regional spatial planning and coordination.

Climate Risk for Renewables: A Zurich Insurance report warns about US$165bn of Southeast Asia renewable energy assets face climate-related hazards by 2030, with 75% of sites likely to be severely affected—highlighting insurance gaps and the need for resilience spending. Biodiversity Under Pressure: New research links Indonesia’s extreme rainfall to deadly habitat loss: Sumatra floods and landslides killed at least 58 Tapanuli orangutans (about 7% of the species’ total population), with deforestation blamed for worsening impacts. Air Pollution Watch: Jakarta’s air quality hit AQI 174 (unhealthy), while Dhaka ranked similarly high—another reminder that health risks from pollution remain urgent across the region. Energy Transition vs Food Costs: Analysts say rising oil prices could boost biofuel demand fast, but fertilizer constraints and blending policies may intensify food price pressures—an issue that matters for Indonesia’s energy and food security plans. Jakarta Weather: BMKG forecasts mostly sunny skies across Jakarta on June 11.

Climate Extremes in Indonesia: A new study links four days of extreme rain in North Sumatra to the deaths of 7% of the world’s rarest great apes, the Tapanuli orangutan, with satellite analysis pointing to landslides and habitat loss. El Niño Watch: Copernicus says a strong El Niño is likely this summer, raising the odds of drought and heat risks that could hit Indonesia’s weather and ecosystems. AI’s Environmental Cost: A UN report warns AI data centres could consume huge electricity and water by 2030, adding pressure on resources and cooling systems—an issue as Indonesia expands digital infrastructure. Data Centre Expansion in Jakarta: STT GDC is growing its Jakarta campus for AI-ready capacity, citing energy-efficiency and lower-warming cooling systems. Wildlife & Habitat: Research highlights mangroves’ global comeback, while separate reporting underscores how roads and development can block wildlife movement. Online MSME Protection: Indonesia is drafting rules for micro and small sellers on e-commerce, including proposed fee discounts and notice periods for fee changes. Biodiversity in the Spotlight: A Bali firefly conservation project is drawing visitors to support breeding and research, tying tourism to local species recovery.

El Niño Watch: The UN weather agency says El Niño is likely to develop and could bring drought and heavy rain risks, with Indonesia flagged among areas that may face dry conditions. Climate & Food Security: Asian agriculture is already seeing below-average rainfall and hotter weather, raising fears that a severe El Niño could hit planting and yields later in 2026. Biodiversity Under Pressure: A new study finds Indonesia’s native hornbills are being hammered by illegal trade, including online sales, threatening slow-reproducing species. Coral Reef Damage: Research quantifies how scuba divers in Indonesia and the Philippines cause frequent, often unintentional coral harm—showing why better reef tourism rules matter. Mangroves Hope: Scientists report global mangrove forests are staging a comeback since 2010, driven by protections and natural regeneration—good news for coastal resilience. Illegal Nuclear Smuggling Claim Rejected: A fact check says a viral claim linking a Sumatra blackout to nuclear material smuggling is not supported; investigators found no sabotage. Indonesia–Singapore Cooperation: Both countries reaffirmed plans on digital infrastructure and green energy cooperation, including data center investment in Batam-Bintan-Karimun.

Coral Reef Damage in Tourism: A new study tracking 700+ scuba divers across the Philippines and Indonesia (including Bali) found 41% of reef contacts caused visible harm, with damage often unintentional—while programs like Green Fins can reduce contacts. Digital + Green Cooperation: Singapore and Indonesia agreed to deepen ties on digital infrastructure, green energy, industry, and supply-chain resilience, with a focus on Batam-Bintan-Karimun data centers and a joint tech-sector study. Climate Ambition Debate: Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare argues the UN climate process must raise ambition, not just “implement” existing pledges—warning that “implementation COP” thinking is dangerously wrong. Super El Niño Watch: Multiple reports highlight a likely “super” El Niño and its worst-case risks for drought and global food supply shocks, with impacts hitting hardest where farmers are most dependent on fragile markets. Illegal Wildlife Trade Crackdown: Philippine authorities launched a manhunt after seizing 53 birds in Sarangani, underscoring ongoing trafficking pressure in the region. Indonesia Budget Priorities: Indonesia’s 2027 budget planning centers on food sovereignty, energy/water self-sufficiency, downstream industry, disaster resilience, and poverty reduction, supported by tax reform and better spending targeting. Industrial Transformation Push: Indonesia reaffirmed its BRICS PartNIR focus on smart manufacturing, future industrial standards, and AI/robotics-driven resilience.

Wildlife Crime Crackdown: Authorities in Sarangani, Philippines seized 53 exotic and native birds in a raid, launching a manhunt after suspects fled—another reminder that biodiversity protection starts with enforcement. Social Forestry Push: Indonesia’s Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki urged better social forestry management through agroforestry, aiming to boost incomes while keeping forests sustainable, with millions of hectares already allocated to households. Food Safety Tightening: Indonesia’s Bapanas and Trade Ministry signed a deal to curb toxic pesticide residues, deploying mobile food-safety lab vehicles to speed up testing in local markets. Climate Risk for Farmers: Indonesia is urging early rice planting as El Niño risk rises, with farmers in West Java adapting to worsening dry spells. Coral Triangle LNG Pressure: Insurers and reinsurers largely refused to rule out LNG expansion in the Coral Triangle, despite biodiversity concerns across Indonesia and neighbors. Blue Economy Cooperation: ASEAN and Norway launched a blue economy project in Jakarta to strengthen sustainable aquaculture and fisheries capacity through 2027. Tourism + Nature: Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry backed the BRI Jazz Gunung Series 2026 to boost mountain tourism while promoting environmental sustainability.

Disaster Response: Indonesia lifted its tsunami warning hours after a 7.8 quake off the southern Philippines, though BMKG reported small waves reaching up to 0.75m in Sangihe; earlier, northern coastal residents in North Sulawesi, Gorontalo and Sangihe were told to evacuate to higher ground. Climate Risk: Forecasts are pointing to an increasingly likely “very strong” El Niño, with rapid Pacific warming raising fears of record heat and major impacts across Asia’s weather and food systems. Ocean & Fisheries: Norway launched a Norway–ASEAN blue economy collaboration in Jakarta and held a workshop on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries capacity-building for ASEAN ahead of World Oceans Day. Plastic & Waste: A World Oceans Day update highlights how low recycling rates keep plastic pollution flowing into seas, while research and policy discussions push for better alternatives and stronger packaging rules. Civic Space for Nature: A regional analysis warns that SLAPP lawsuits are being used to intimidate environmental defenders across Southeast Asia as climate and biodiversity threats intensify. Biodiversity: Scientists rediscovered and identified new bird life in Indonesia, including a “cheerful fantail” endemic to Babar, underscoring how much biodiversity still hides in remote forests. Digital Child Safety: Indonesia’s digital affairs ministry urged parents to watch four online risks for children—strangers, harmful content, addiction, and health impacts—under new child-protection rules for platforms.

Disaster Response: Indonesia lifted its tsunami warning hours after a 7.8-magnitude quake off the southern Philippines, but BMKG and BNPB reported small waves in northern monitoring sites, with the highest reaching about 0.75 meters on Sangihe; officials had earlier ordered orderly evacuations to higher ground in North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and the Sangihe Islands. Regional Impact: The quake triggered tsunami advisories across the Philippines and parts of Asia, with reports of deaths and widespread damage in General Santos, while a 6.1 aftershock followed. Climate & Oceans: A new long-term study finds Indonesia’s coral reefs have stayed relatively stable in hard coral cover despite rising sea temperatures from 1985–2023—yet warns that “stability” isn’t the same as safety as heat stress intensifies. Marine Conservation: Communities in eastern Indonesia are reviving traditional sea protection practices to safeguard local marine life. Policy & Governance: A documentary on Papua’s land and forest struggles, including links to national strategic projects, was banned—raising fresh concerns about censorship and environmental rights.