Hashim: Carbon Market a Major Breakthrough to Support National Energy Transition
President Prabowo’s Special Envoy for Climate and Energy, Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo, has described the launch of the national carbon market as a major breakthrough in supporting the energy transition. Speaking at the Leaders’ Briefing 2026: Powering Sustainable Growth for the Future event at PLN Headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday (16/7/2026), he stated that climate change is a challenge directly impacting all Indonesians, necessitating concrete government action. “I am proud to serve the country and government in a sector that is very important, which is climate change. Because it greatly impacts hundreds of millions of our people in ways we cannot avoid,” Hashim said.
He explained that the impacts of climate change are not only felt in the agricultural sector but are also altering Indonesia’s geography due to rising sea levels. This situation, he noted, forces the government to prepare for the construction of giant sea walls in several coastal areas to mitigate risks. Hashim stressed that the government, under President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran, prioritised the creation of regulations enabling the carbon market, a mechanism long awaited since the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Since beginning his tenure as Special Envoy in November 2024, Hashim said he has been frequently asked by global investors about the certainty of Indonesia’s carbon market. Investors he met in various countries assessed that Indonesia has huge potential if clear regulations are in place. He declared that the government has successfully answered this challenge with a trading system that is now operational, proving that long-discussed policies can be realised. “In this case, I can say that specifically regarding the development of the carbon market and carbon credits for Indonesia and for PLN, our government has succeeded. Our government has been very successful,” Hashim stated.
He revealed that this important milestone was achieved through the launch of the carbon market and the establishment of the Carbon Unit Regulatory System (SRUK) on 9 July 2026. This achievement, he noted, was the result of cross-ministerial coordination and had been anticipated for 11 years since the Paris Agreement. Hashim added that the system has received praise from industry players and international investors, marking a new chapter that will directly benefit state-owned electricity company PLN.