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On November 15, 2024, the Asian Research Center (ARC) of Universitas Indonesia held a one-day workshop entitled “Analyzing Energy Transitions Using a ‘Whole Systems’ Approach” at the Meeting Room, Communication Building, 3rd Floor, FISIP UI, Depok. The event was part of the research project “Energy Transitions and Global Power Shifts: Socio-Ecological Challenges and Opportunities in Indonesia’s Nickel Commodity Chain” supported by the Open Society Foundation (OSF) and in collaboration with the Australian National University (ANU)12.
Background
The transition to a low-carbon economy is critical for climate change mitigation, but presents a series of ethical and policy dilemmas. Increasing demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium and nickel for future energy systems risks locking us into a mineral-intensive and extractive transition process. Without proactive governance, this pathway could exacerbate economic and environmental harm, inequality and injustice12.
Workshop Objectives
This workshop aims to:
Disseminate ARC-EAST research findings on energy transition and global power shifts in Indonesia’s nickel downstream agenda.
Build collaboration between academics and activists to generate shared knowledge on Indonesia’s energy transition system and critical mineral governance12.
Whole Systems Approach
This workshop applies the “whole systems” approach conceptualized by Abrams et al. (2022). This approach considers the distribution of risks, the interconnectedness of sectors and regions, the diversity of energy vulnerabilities, and the governance challenges that accompany decarbonization. This perspective helps understand the root causes of inequities that arise from the interaction between social, economic and technical systems12.
Participants
The event was attended by around 20 invited participants, including the ARC-EAST research team and representatives from key organizations on energy and socio-environmental transition issues. Participants came from Jakarta and other regions such as Central Sulawesi and North Maluku, representing various organizations.
Expected Outcomes
As an output of this workshop, participants will jointly draft a collaborative expert commentary focusing on Indonesia’s energy transition and critical minerals governance through a “whole systems” approach. This expert commentary is planned to be published on The Conversation12.
This workshop is an important step in understanding and addressing the complex challenges associated with Indonesia’s energy transition. By bringing together various stakeholders and using a “whole systems” approach, it is expected to generate new insights and more comprehensive solutions to support a just and sustainable energy transition.