Climate Change and the Law: Assessing Indonesia’s 2009 Environmental Protection and Management Law in Promoting Climate Justice

Abstract

This paper assesses the effectiveness of Indonesia’s 2009 Environmental Protection and Management Law (UU No. 32/2009) in promoting climate justice, with a focus on its capacity to address the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, social equity, and climate change. As climate change accelerates, the need for robust legal frameworks to ensure both environmental sustainability and social justice has never been more urgent. The 2009 law, which outlines the legal basis for environmental protection and resource management, aims to balance development with environmental conservation and to ensure the rights of affected communities. This study critically analyzes the law’s provisions related to climate change adaptation, mitigation, and environmental justice, examining how effectively it promotes equity for marginalized communities, such as indigenous peoples, rural populations, and low-income groups, who are disproportionately impacted by environmental changes. Through policy analysis, legal review, and interviews with legal experts, activists, and affected communities, the research evaluates the implementation and impact of the law in the context of climate justice. Findings suggest that while the law provides important legal structures for environmental protection and climate adaptation, its effectiveness is undermined by gaps in enforcement, lack of political will, and insufficient integration of climate justice principles into local governance. The paper argues that for Indonesia to achieve meaningful climate justice, the 2009 law must be strengthened through more inclusive and equitable policy frameworks, enhanced public participation, and a more rigorous commitment to the rights of vulnerable populations.