The Urgency of Planning a Sustainable and Just Transition for Energy Sector Workers

Indonesia’s energy transition must deliver justice, mitigate negative impacts, and prepare fossil fuel workers for green sector jobs. Strategies and policies for retraining, reskilling, and skills transfer (upskilling) should be in place, and economic diversification should be a priority for regions that depend on fossil energy, like coal, oil, and gas.

Without careful planning, the transition risks deepening existing inequalities. A case in point is the closure of major liquid gas producer Arun NGL in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Indonesia. The closure led to thousands of job losses, a collapse of the local economy, and a surge in unemployment.

How should the government design an energy transition that is both just and sustainable for workers in the energy sector?

To answer this question, CERAH Indonesia is holding a public discussion titled The Urgency of Planning a Sustainable and Just Transition for Energy Sector Workers. This discussion seeks to share field research findings, explore intervention opportunities, and collect policy recommendations on the transition of fossil energy workers.