Indonesia Faces Three Planetary Crises: Climate Change, Pollution, and Biodiversity Loss

Strategic Insights -

Indonesia is experiencing a series of unprecedented environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, which threaten the well-being of its citizens and the country's future. The environmental damage resulting from recent demonstrations and riots is reversible, but the harm caused by pollution, land degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss is long-lasting and requires immediate attention. The Minister of Environment emphasizes the urgent need for environmental restoration and biodiversity conservation, citing the Indonesian government's commitment to address the three planetary crises.

Key Takeaways:

  • Indonesia faces three planetary crises: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, with around 5075% of the global population potentially affected by climate change, contributing to 4.2 million deaths annually due to air pollution (IPCC, 2022).
  • Biodiversity loss threatens human health and ecosystem services, with one million plant and animal species worldwide on the brink of extinction (IPBES, 2019).
  • In 2024, Indonesia recorded 3,472 disasters, with hydrometeorological disasters dominating at 3,449 incidents, mostly floods, resulting in 603 deaths and missing persons (BNPB, 2025).
  • The Environmental Quality Index (IKLH) rose slightly from 72.42 points in 2022 to 72.54 points in 2023, with all indexes for air, water, and land quality improving except for seawater quality, which declined (2025).
  • Motor vehicle emissions account for 4257% of air pollution during the dry season, while industrial activity contributes 14% (2025).
  • Indonesia generates 35.01 million tons of waste in 2024, down from 43.2 million tons in 2023, but only about 14% is managed, with the majority ending up in landfill sites or polluting the environment (SIPSN, 2024).
  • The Ministry of National Development Planning confirmed Indonesia's biodiversity status in 2024, listing 31,031 flora species and 744,279 fauna species, reaffirming its status as a mega-biodiversity nation (BAPPENAS, 2024).
  • Efforts at recovery include replanting, land rehabilitation, species conservation, and pollution reduction measures, with the government promoting community-based initiatives through social forestry programs such as agroforestry and ecotourism (Ministry of Forestry, 2025).
  • A total of 11,065 Social Forestry Decrees (SK) were issued between January and September 2025, involving 1.4 million forestry partnerships covering 8.4 million hectares, with an economic transaction value of forest farmer groups and social forestry enterprises reaching Rp1.57 trillion (US$92 million) by the second quarter of 2025 (Ministry of Forestry, 2025).

Statistics:

  • 5075% of the global population is potentially affected by climate change (IPCC, 2022).
  • 4.2 million deaths annually due to air pollution (IPCC, 2022).
  • 3,472 disasters recorded in 2024 (BNPB, 2025).
  • 603 deaths and missing persons reported in 2024 due to floods (BNPB, 2025).
  • 35.01 million tons of waste generated in 2024 (SIPSN, 2024).
  • 4257% of air pollution caused by motor vehicle emissions during the dry season (2025).
  • 14% of waste managed, with the majority ending up in landfill sites or polluting the environment (SIPSN, 2024).
  • 31,031 flora species and 744,279 fauna species listed in Indonesia's biodiversity status (BAPPENAS, 2024).

Sources:

  • IPCC (2022) - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.
  • IPBES (2019) - Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report.
  • BNPB (2025) - National Disaster Mitigation Agency data.
  • SIPSN (2024) - National Waste Management Information System data.
  • BAPPENAS (2024) - Ministry of National Development Planning data.
  • Ministry of Forestry (2025) - Social forestry program data.
  • Ministry of Environment (2025) - Environmental restoration and biodiversity conservation efforts.