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Editorial: The green economy for sustainable development in Indonesia - The

challenges and opportunities of a multidisciplinary approach

Article  in  International Journal of Green Economics · August 2013

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Editorial for Special Issue

Green Economy for Sustainable Development in Indonesia: Challenges and

Opportunities from Multidisciplinary Approach

Dr. Dessy Irawati, Sondervick College-The Netherlands and Newcastle University, UK

Dr. Stephan Onggo, Lancaster University, UK

ABSTRACT:

In this editorial we summarize and comment on papers in the theme of Green Economy from
Indonesian perspective. We aim to address the issue of green economy and sustainable
development in Indonesia, as one of the dynamic country in Southeast Asia (ASEAN). We
compile 8 papers contribution from multidisciplinary approach namely economy, disaster
recovery, environmental education, environmental urban planning, and environmental
engineering. Additionally, in this special issue, we envisage the Indonesian experience in an
attempt to adopt and to adapt green economy model by looking at the challenges and the
opportunities.

INTRODUCTION

Southeast Asian region is regarded as one of the dynamic region in Asia which has a
significant potential in economy, politic, social, and international relations (Irawati 2011).
Nowadays, it is also significant to address the importance of ecology and environment in line
with the dynamic industrial development in Asia to avoid negative impact in long-term usage
and exploitation of natural resources (Kenneth and Kamaruddin 2012, Kenneth 2008).

Indonesia as one of the dynamic country in Southeast Asia has significant potential to develop
its growing economy towards sustainable development (Irawati et al. 2011). In Indonesian
context, the current and future economic development should be done through green economy
model or an environmentally sustainable model, an improved human-well being and social
equity by reducing environmental risk and ecological scarcities (Kenneth 2012, Kenneth and
Felton 2012, Kennet and Courea 2011).

Green economy is seen and perceived as a new paradigm towards sustainable economy and
development. In view of that Indonesia is trying to address this new initiative model by
implementing some aspects, for instance renewable energy, green buildings, water
management, waste management, and environmentally business management practices
(Irawati et al. 2011). In view of that, Indonesia is trying to form an economic system that
respects the integrity of ecosystems and ensures the resilience of life supporting systems.

Nevertheless, such attempts are neither unflawed nor easy to be implemented. Not only
trying to be more sustainable, effective, and ‘greener’, Indonesia through its government,
universities, and business practitioners have been playing significant role to keep promoting
the importance of green economy for future generation through several community initiatives,
joint projects, and partnership. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the narrative and the
local context from Indonesian experiences: challenges and opportunities in perceiving green
economy.

Accordingly, in this special issue, eight papers are chosen from multidisciplinary approach.

The following paragraphs are the structure of the special issue:

The first paper in this issue, entitled `Relocation for better livelihood: A case study of street
vendor in local authorities in Indonesia` by Tutik Rachmawati, focuses on economy and the
role of street vendors in sustainable economy. The paper sets out to unpacked the conceptual
understanding of street vendors. Using case studies and actor perspective analysis, it will shed
light on issue on street vendor empowerment and structuring program particularly in
developing country like Indonesia.

Additionally, second paper focuses on the role of agriculture in sustainable economy with title
` the Agricultural sector as the main power of green economy in Indonesia by Sri Novianthi
Pratiwi. This paper is investigating the public awareness to promote green economy in
younger generation, who has less-understanding of the importance of managing the
agricultural sector as the oldest industrial sector in Indonesia.

The next discussion highlights the topical theme for Indonesian geographical location in the
ring of fire. It is the third paper entitled `Durability of quality of life enhancement of social
community network after tsunami disaster in Aceh`. This paper is written by Era Nopera
Rauzi and Sekiguchi Nobuyuki. By emphasizing on the focus on how the tsunami survivor
have recovered and enhanced the quality of life in Aceh, the devastated province in Indonesia
was badly hit by Tsunami in 2004. The discussion on how people can build economic vitality
aftermath the tragic tsunami is the major focus.

Furthermore, Whinda Yustisia presents the fourth paper about `Why throwing rubbish in the
river? Investigating individual and social factors to understand environmental behaviour. This
study investigates the effects of place identity, social norms and their relationships to engage
with responsibility in looking after the environment. This case is very significant for Jakarta,
as the capital city of Indonesia, whereby Ciliwung’s river is acting as one of the mainstream
river.

In the fifth paper entitled `Mangrove: reconstructing environmental education to foster

creative economy in Indonesia, Ifan Rikhza Auladi argues that public awareness and green
economic empowerment through mangrove conservation should be looked after carefully.
Moreover, this paper emphasizes the importance of empowerment among actors involved in
this mangrove conservation programme in Indonesia.

The discussion is then continued by Sri Hudaya Widihasta, who discussed `the
Implementation of family planning towards green economy: case studies in West Java,
Indonesia. Sri strengthens the importance issue of population growth which is still a big issue
in Indonesia. This problem might lead to economic problem if it is not having the same pace
economically. Therefore, she argues that the importance of family planning itself is necessary.
 Further discussion on the importance of understanding the effect of Urban Canyon on
creating green city planning is written by Raditya Yudha Wiranegara and Hector Lacovides.
They provide the understanding of urban canyon as phenomena in cities which can be found
from the existence of skyscrapers or arranged building block. This might cause negative effect
to the inhabitants by the airflow and energy exchange within the canyon. Detailed explanation
is discussed in this paper by investigating the numerical flow simulation of the urban canyon.

Last paper is about cohesion policy in Indonesia to address forest management in Indonesia.
This paper is written by Annisa Rahmawati. The focus is on Ecosystem Restoration
Consession (ERC) which is a new type of license introduced in 2004. This new license is
aimed to tackle the high rate of deforestation in Indonesia’s production forest. Moreover, this
paper examines the business feasibility of ERCs using a cost benefit analysis method.

CONCLUSION

This special issue is aimed to link eight papers together and relate them with the context of
sustainable development and green economy in Indonesia. The discussion on green economy
from Indonesian context is significant to give an overview of what happens in micro and
macro level of this country.

The multidisciplinary perspective to understand green economy is critical, due to complexity

faced by Indonesia in order to sustain better and long-term economic. It is also recommended
that relevant stakeholders should be involved, namely multilayered government, universities,
business practitioner, NGOs, and Indonesian people.

Furthermore, this special edition is aimed to stimulate further debate and discussion on the
green economy in other Asian countries, particularly in Southeast Asia region that has the
similar challenge in creating a more sustainable and a greener city despite the dynamic of
economic flourishing.

REFERENCES

Irawati, D., Nugroho, Y.,Loebis, D (2011) Mapping the potentials: on Science, Development
and Sustainability in Indonesia, Cambridge: Scientifica Book
Irawati, D (2011), Editorial Paper for ASEAN: Global-Local Networks in Emerging Regions
through Knowledge Transfer, Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol
19 (2), pp271-272
Kennet M., (2008) Introduction to Green Economics, in Harvard School Economics Review.
Kennet M., and Courea E, Pepinyte (2011) Handbook of Green Economics. The Green
Economics Institute
Kennet M.,and Kamarudin N., (2012) Green Economics: The Greening of Asia and China.
The Green Economics Institute
Kennet M., and Felton J., (2012) The Green Built Environment: A Handbook. The Green
Economics Institute
Kennet M., (2012) The Green Economics Reader. The Green Economics Institute

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