Decarbonization Policies Paving the Way for Fossil Fuel Industry Longevity?

Various policies labeled 'decarbonization' are increasingly paving the way for the sustainability of the coal, oil, and gas industries, rather than accelerating the reduction of dependency on fossil fuels. Regulatory schemes, financing, and projects are enabling the fossil fuel industry to persist in the long term. This tendency is detailed in a report by Jaringan Advokasi Tambang (JATAM), titled 'Fossil Wolves in Decarbonization Clothing: Energy Transition Regulations and Financing Perpetuating Fossil Energy Dominance in Indonesia.' Through this report, JATAM exposes how the narrative of 'decarbonization' and 'false solutions' is being used as a tool to extend the lifespan of the fossil fuel industry, not to halt it. The report highlights several projects as part of the energy transition, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), biomass co-firing, hydrogen, ammonia, biomethane, and coal gasification into dimethyl ether (DME). Fanny Tri Jambore, a researcher at JATAM Nasional, stated that these various technologies are presented as decarbonization strategies in several official state documents. However, the direction of these policies is not aimed at ending fossil energy extraction. "Referring to etymology, decarbonization is indeed a mechanism to reduce carbon emission footprints," she said in a written statement to Mongabay. Ideally, decarbonization, as an effort to reduce dependency on fossil energy, is morphing into an instrument for maintaining coal, petroleum, and gas in the long term. JATAM notes that various documents, such as the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025–2045, the Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience (LTS-LCCR) 2050, the Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC), Government Regulation No. 40/2025 concerning National Energy Policy, the National Energy General Plan (RUEN), the National Electricity General Plan (RUKN), and the Electricity Purchase Power Plan (RUPTL) 2025–2034, consistently include CCS, CCUS, DME, hydrogen, ammonia, and other technologies within the context of decarbonization. Consistently, these plans and policies incorporate CCS, CCUS, DME, hydrogen, ammonia, and other technologies. JATAM concludes that these policy directions are not intended to end fossil fuel extraction but rather to maintain and utilize existing fossil fuel infrastructure, giving a 'clean' image through the introduction of new technologies, thereby enabling the industry's continuation. This raises questions about Indonesia's commitment to achieving its climate action goals presented to the international community.