Carbon Footprints, Inequity Imprints: Emission Disparities in Indonesia's Socioeconomic Landscape

Abstract

This paper investigates the disparities in carbon emissions across different socioeconomic groups in Indonesia, emphasizing the relationship between carbon footprints and social inequity. As one of the world’s largest emitters, Indonesia’s environmental policies often fail to consider the intersection of climate change with issues of social justice, particularly regarding the disproportionate environmental burdens borne by marginalized communities. While urban and industrial sectors contribute heavily to the nation’s carbon emissions, rural and indigenous populations, who contribute less to environmental degradation, face the harshest consequences, including displacement, health crises, and loss of livelihoods due to climate change. Through a legal and policy analysis, this paper critically examines how Indonesia’s environmental regulations, which predominantly focus on industrial emissions and urban development, often neglect the vulnerability of low-income and rural communities. It further explores the concept of "inequity imprints"—the social, economic, and health impacts that disproportionately affect these vulnerable groups—and assesses whether current legal frameworks can adequately address these disparities. By bridging the gap between environmental law, climate justice, and socioeconomic inequality, this paper contributes to both the domestic and international debates on climate justice. It advocates for policy reforms that integrate a more equitable distribution of environmental burdens and emphasize climate adaptation strategies for vulnerable communities. The findings offer critical insights into the need for a rights-based approach in addressing both environmental and social inequities, adding an important dimension to global discussions on sustainable development and climate action.