Green Infrastructure: Sustainable Development in Indonesia
4th August, 2022
The construction industry is highly energy- and carbon-intensive, producing 25-40% of the world’s total carbon emissions, expected to be exacerbated by an increase in the demand for new buildings. The construction and buildings sector accounts for c.36% of global energy use and c.39% of energy-related CO2e emissions. Developing countries account for c.60% of the global construction sector’s total CO2e emissions. ~80% of the construction industry’s GHG emissions are estimated to be generated from building materials, 5-15% from transportation and mobility sector, and 6-9% from construction activity. However, significant progress has been made in the infrastructure segment in lowering carbon emissions, progressing and modulating on eco-friendly requirements, and executing low-carbon measures in the construction supply chain to meet the Paris Agreement target of limiting global temperature rise to below 2oC.
Cement Industry Decarbonisation Pathways to Meet Paris Agreement Emission Targets
20th July, 2022
Cement is one of the largest consumed products globally, as it is a key component of concrete, used in every structure. The cement industry is also one of the largest emitters of carbon, accounting for 6-8% of the global total. Decarbonisation in the cement industry is particularly challenging since a major portion of emissions arises from unavoidable calcination chemical processes, which may not have a cleaner, commercially scalable alternative for years. Given the importance of infrastructure-related projects in economic development, cement demand and its significance are expected to grow globally. The industry, thus, needs to embark on a decarbonisation journey in line with the Paris Agreement, which aims to curb global temperatures well below 2ºC of the pre-industrial temperature.
Growing Importance of Slag Cement in the Global Cement Industry
6th July, 2022
Slag cement, also called ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), is the cement that enhances traditional concrete benefits of strength and durability while reducing waste, energy use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is used in construction applications in conjunction with traditional Portland cement, as part of blended cement, or as stand-alone cement. It usually replaces some percentage of the Portland cement in concrete mixes.
Greening the Steel: Innovation in Steel Industry
29th June, 2022
Steel is an essential commodity for society given its properties such as recyclability, durability and versatility. However, a heated debate is ongoing on the role of steel in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Steel-making is highly carbon-intensive and accounts for 9% of direct emissions, higher than the combined levels emitted by the automobile and aviation industries. Despite continued efforts to increase recycling, current steel production emits more CO2 than required to meet the Paris Agreement.
EV Battery Opportunity in Indonesia
15th June, 2022
Indonesia has the potential to become a major player in the electric vehicle space, particularly in the EV battery industry. It has the largest nickel reserves in the world. Nickel is an important raw material in the battery and electric cars industry. The archipelago is home to about one-fourth of the global nickel reserves, offering Indonesia an advantage over its peers.
Voluntary Carbon Market –Trends and Outlook
8th June, 2022
Organisations worldwide are taking strides to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions from their businesses. The majority of them are experiencing technical difficulties in becoming emission-free immediately, or the economic cost of doing so is excessively high. So they have voluntarily committed to becoming carbon-neutral through medium- and long-term plans, directing their investments in climate-friendly projects such as afforestation, land use, renewable energy and energy efficiency. As a result, there has been a surge in transaction volumes of voluntary carbon credits in the last few years.
Indonesia Carbon Tax : The Future of Steel Industry
2nd June, 2022
Indonesia is the 6th largest carbon emitter in the world; it is also an archipelagic country with more than 17,000 islands and is vulnerable to climate change risks such as rising sea levels. According to Indonesian Ministry of Development (2021), Indonesia experiences a sea-level rise of 0.8-1.2cm/year while approximately 65% of the population lives in coastal areas. Climate change may increase the risk of hydrometeorological disasters which currently reach 80% of the total disasters that occurred in Indonesia.
Chinese Steel Producers Exploring Investments in Other Asian Countries Amid Stringent Emission Standards
29th March, 2022
In line with the global drive towards decarbonisation, China has doubled its focus on environmental protection and GHG emission policies. It has enacted stringent curbs on the steel industry, which accounts for the highest energy consumption of 13% among all industries and is responsible for heavy carbon emissions. These curbs include production cuts in smog-prone regions during winter and switch to an ultra-low emission standard. China has already been consolidating emission standards in the iron and steel industry over the last few years.
Reflections On Transitioning The World Towards Net-Zero
23rd February, 2022
As we continue towards the net-zero path, it is important to understand the scale of investments required and the challenges ahead. Although commitments have risen over the past years, there are two challenges with where we stand today.
Carbon As A New Asset Class: Journey To The Realization Of Carbon Trade And Tax In Indonesia
18th February, 2022
In early November 2021, the Government of Indonesia (GOI) represented by His Excellency, President Joko Widodo, attended the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Since 2016, the GOI has committed to reducing the greenhouse gasses emission by submitting their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations showing the GOI’s plan to tackling these issues.
Indonesia's New Capital To Spur Demand For More Sustainable Building Materials And Infrastructure
17th February, 2022
The Indonesian government recently reaffirmed its commitment to relocate Indonesia’s capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan. On January 18, 2022, the Indonesian parliament passed the IKN Bill or the capital city bill into law laying out the legal framework to relocate the capital which will be named Nusantara.