Clean Energy Policies and Just Transition for Coal Industry Workers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58812/wslhr.v4i03.3005Keywords:
Clean Energy Policy, Just Transition, Coal Industry Workers, Labor Protection, Normative Legal AnalysisAbstract
Indonesia’s transition toward clean energy represents an important legal and policy response to climate change, environmental degradation, and the pursuit of sustainable development. However, the gradual reduction of coal dependency also creates significant legal and socio-economic challenges for workers and communities whose livelihoods rely on the coal industry. This study aims to examine the adequacy of Indonesia’s legal framework in ensuring a just transition for coal industry workers during the implementation of clean energy policies. The research employs a normative legal method using statutory, conceptual, comparative, and analytical approaches. Primary legal materials consist of constitutional provisions, national legislation, presidential regulations, and international legal instruments related to energy transition, environmental protection, labor rights, and social security. Secondary legal materials include academic journals, books, policy reports, and legal commentaries concerning clean energy governance and just transition. The findings indicate that Indonesia has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework supporting renewable energy development and greenhouse gas emission reduction. Nevertheless, the legal framework governing worker protection during the energy transition remains fragmented and insufficiently integrated. Existing regulations primarily emphasize environmental objectives and renewable energy investment while providing only general labor protection without specifically regulating workforce reskilling, employment transition, income protection, regional economic diversification, and institutional coordination. Consequently, legal uncertainty persists regarding the protection of coal industry workers affected by decarbonization policies. The study concludes that Indonesia requires a more comprehensive and integrated legal framework that harmonizes environmental sustainability with labor rights and social justice. Strengthening legislation concerning just transition, workforce protection, social dialogue, dedicated transition financing, and intergovernmental coordination is essential to ensure that Indonesia’s clean energy transition is equitable, inclusive, and capable of supporting long-term sustainable development.
References
[1] IEA, “CO2 Emissions in 2023,” Int. Energy Agency, 2023, [Online]. Available: www.iea.org
[2] IPCC, “Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report,” pp. 35–115, 2023, doi: 10.59327/IPCC/AR6-9789291691647.
[3] A. W. Siagian and M. N. A.-H. Kasuma, “Towards a just energy transition and clean energy in Indonesia: Legal challenges from dependence on coal,” Crit. Issue Sustain. Futur., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 161–179, 2025.
[4] E. Handayani and V. Maharani, “Harmonizing Indonesia’s Regulatory Framework on Energy Transition to Balance Green Goals and Economic Growth,” in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, 2025, p. 12003.
[5] K. E. Mineral and S. Ketenagalistrikan, “Kementerian Energi Dan Sumber Daya Mineral,” Kementeri. ENERGI DAN SUMBER DAYA Miner., vol. 15, 2023.
[6] H. W. Nugroho, “The role of energy transition in anticipating the impacts of climate change,” Interact. Community Engag. Soc. Environ., vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 55–69, 2025.
[7] S. Bößner, “Just energy transitions and coal in Indonesia: Policy recommendations to move forward,” SEI Publ., vol. 2024, no. 2, 2024.
[8] L. Nurhidayah, S. Alam, N. A. Utomo, and A. Suntoro, “Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition: The Societal Implications of Policy and Legislation on Renewable Energy,” Clim. Law, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 36–66, 2024.
[9] ILO, ILO publicational 2015. 2015.
[10] I. Andy, “Energy transition law addressing fossil fuel phase-out, just transition principles, and workforce protection mechanisms globally,” World J. Adv. Res. Rev., vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 1467–1479, 2022, doi: 10.30574/wjarr.2022.16.3.1370.
[11] D. Doorey, “Just Transitions Law: Putting Labour Law to Work on Climate Change’(2017),” J. Environ. Law Pract., vol. 30, p. 201.
[12] E. Scandrett, S. Dey, and S. Graham, “Just transitions,” Community Dev. J., vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 167–178, 2022.
[13] A. Wibawa and S. Hermawan, “KRITIK ATAS RANCANGAN UNDANG–UNDANG ENERGI BARU TERBARUKAN DI INDONESIA DALAM KERANGKA DESAIN PENYUSUNAN LEGISLASI EFEKTIF,” Bina Huk. Lingkung., vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 159–190, 2024.
[14] M. R. Syamandiri and R. Rahaditya, “Juridical Review the Effect of the Amendment of Law No. 13 of 2003 to Law No. 06 of 2023 On Termination of Employment (Layoff),” Eduvest-Journal Univers. Stud., vol. 5, no. 11, pp. 13141–13151, 2025.
[15] S. A. Lestari, D. T. Rabani, E. M. Sari, and H. R. Ardiana, “Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja (PHK) Akibat Automasi dan Artificial Intelligence: Tantangan Hukum Ketenagakerjaan di Indonesia,” Doktrin J. Dunia Ilmu Huk. dan Polit., vol. 3, pp. 119–131, 2025.
[16] A. D. Subarkah and N. Husna, “Transforming Energy Law for Climate Justice: Towards A Legal Framework of Just Energy Transition in Developing Countries: Penelitian,” J. Pengabdi. Masy. dan Ris. Pendidik., vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 15372–15379, 2026.
[17] R. Kurniawan, R. Tratama, and R. Mulyani, “Analisis Perlindungan Hukum dalam Penyelesaian Masalah Lingkungan Berkelanjutan di Indonesia Ditinjau dari UU No. 32 Tahun 2009 dan Paris Convention,” J. Huk. Indones., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 19–27, 2025.
[18] M. N. Kesek, “The Role of Environmental Law in Addressing Climate Change: An Analysis of Law Enforcement and Compliance in Indonesia,” Int. J. Business, Law, Educ., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 1269–1274, 2025.
[19] D. A. Rahmawati, B. Endarto, J. Soraya, and S. Ngaisah, “Carbon Trading and Environmental Justice : A Juridical Examination of Fairness in Indonesia ’ s Emissions Reduction Initiative,” vol. 2, no. 04, pp. 429–436, 2024.
[20] F. Mohammad, S. H. Sutjahjo, H. Effendi, I. S. Sitanggang, and D. P. Sasongko, “Transformasi Kerangka Hukum Lingkungan Indonesia melalui Next Generation Framework: Evaluasi Normatif-Praktis Tata Kelola Terpadu,” Bina Huk. Lingkung., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 119–137, 2025.
[21] M. H. Prakoso, R. Mustika, and Z. Sandi, “The Challenge of Financing Renewable Energy in Indonesia: A Multi-Perspective Examination of Policy Implications,” in 2025 5th International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Power Systems (ICHVEPS), IEEE, 2025, pp. 353–358.
[22] D. Khairiani, “Indonesia’s Energy Transition Norm Diffusion Under the UNFCCC Framework,” Eduvest-Journal Univers. Stud., vol. 5, no. 12, pp. 14884–14901, 2025.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Indah Dwiprigitaningtias, Rival Pahrijal, Paramita Andiani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Facebook 
Instagram 
Twitter 
Youtube 
westscience.journals@gmail.com