Indonesia pushes universities to accelerate net-zero transition

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8 hours ago

The higher education sector holds immense potential to contribute to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner,

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is encouraging Indonesian universities to accelerate their transition to net-zero emissions through the launch of the Net Zero Campus program guidelines and report.

The ministry’s Secretary General, Badri Munir Sukoco, said environmental sustainability is a core principle of higher education and national development in achieving the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, under which Indonesia aims to become a developed nation.

“Around 200 campuses are currently involved. Several have already implemented effective recycling programs,” Badri said during the launch of the Net Zero Campus program guidelines and report in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said these sustainable campus management efforts are aligned with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives on the ASRI environmental cleanliness movement.

The ministry has also issued Ministerial Decree No. 361 of 2025 on Impactful Campuses, which evaluates higher education contributions across economic, social, and environmental sectors.

Badri hoped the Net Zero Campus guidelines would be integrated into existing reporting systems and ranking frameworks to avoid increasing administrative burdens for university leaders.

Meanwhile, Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center Chairperson Filda C. Yusgiantoro highlighted the higher education sector’s vast potential, noting that approximately 4,000 institutions and 11 million students, faculty members, and staff could serve as drivers of decarbonization.

“The higher education sector holds immense potential to contribute to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner,” she said.

Filda noted that the Net Zero Campus initiative was originally developed by the Climateworks Centre in Australia to promote a greener transformation in various higher education.

She expressed hope that the Net Zero Campus guidelines would serve as a model for universities and help drive concrete climate change mitigation efforts nationwide.