Climate Justice in the Archipelagic State, Legal Frameworks and Future Perspectives: A Study of Indonesia

This article examines the complex concept of climate justice within the context of Indonesia, a nation-state comprising an archipelago. Positioned within a distributive justice framework, climate justice focuses on equitable allocation of the benefits and burdens of climate action, ensuring that the socio-economic cost of mitigation and adaptation are not disproportionately borne by vulnerable populations who have historically contributed the least to global emissions .The discussion centres on the "three-dimensional planetary crisis," exemplified by Indonesia's nickel downstream, where the conversion of 76,000 hectares of forest into mining concessions and the reliance on captive coal power have accelerated deforestations and emissions, triggering documented socio-environmental conflicts over land and water rights. This analysis operationalizes intergenerational justice by evaluating the ‘carbon debt’ and ‘natural capital depletion’ bequeathed to future generations’ specifically, it assesses how current nickel-driven deforestation and the 30 year lock-in of captive coal infrastructure create long-term ecological liabilities that undermine the resource inheritance protected under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Despite Indonesia's commitment to these principles is reflected in its legal frameworks, particularly through Presidential Regulation No. 59 of 2017 and Law No. 32 of 2009, viewed through a distributive lens, Indonesia’s nickel-centric industrialisation often overrides these environmental safeguards, creating a decoupling where economic benefits are centralised while ecological burdens. The article also examines key legal developments, such as the landmark 2013 Constitutional Court ruling for recognition, its distributive impact remains limited by procedural hurdles. Over a decade later, only a small fraction of the 40 million hectares of customary forests has been formally returned, as indigenous groups face arduous state-led verification processes that often prioritize extractive interests in the nickel and mining sectors. Additionally, the article highlights the potential of technology and innovation, collaborative multi-stakeholder approaches, and the active engagement of youth in advancing climate justice. Recommendations emphasize the need to strengthen legal frameworks, ensure the participation of marginalized groups, and enhance educational initiatives to build a resilient and equitable climate future.