08 November 2025 Article

COP30 — How Long Left Until We Draw the Line?

By
Ahmad Ali Rayyan Shahab
Student of MAN ICP, AFS Finland Returnee YP 24/25, Environmental Observer

The upcoming COP30 agenda – the UN’s climate change conference set from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, might unravel an ironic truth of Indonesia’s environmental record. Instead of signaling progress, the nation’s ambition to expand its nickel industry through downstreaming efforts has introduced a threat of stagnation, or even regression, within energy transition discourse. Although framed under the notion of optimizing economic significance and boosting electric car (EV) production, the nickel industrial process remains still deeply tied to coal, compromising the united goal of energy transition.

Coal-based industrial operations have and will continue to induce environmental degradation, notably air & water pollution. Air pollution, in particular, have been observed to increase the level of Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), reaching 800-1000 cases/yr. With no clear mitigations in sight, projections indicate that pollution could cause 5.000 premature deaths and economic burden of USD 3.24 million by 2030. In aquatic ecosystem, heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury have seeped to water reservoirs, contaminating fishes and other organisms. These toxic substances ultimately accumulate at the top of the food chain – including human.  Not limited to coal, land procurement intended for nickel mines indirectly entangled whopping 5700 hectares of deforestation in North Maluku, exacerbating destruction effect of earthquakes and high tides at hands.

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It is important to note that these disruptions act as a snowball, overlapping economical and sociocultural state of workers and local inhabitants. Several islands around Wawonii, Southeast of Celebes reported a collapse of coastal economy as fishermen are unable to find reef fishes due to coral bleaching. Moreover, corporate discrimination is evident, with electricity access distributed based on whether households align with or oppose the mining industry.

An imminent solution is needed to address this problem. In this regard, Greenfaith through their Instagram webinar in 18^th of September 2025 marked their stance that environmental degradation and injustice can no longer be tolerated; we must draw the line now, by spreading awareness and igniting the courage to take action.

Religion and Environmental Solutions

The founder of Greenfaith, Hening, addresses several pre-requirements to establish an environmental welfare-state, like emphasizing marginalized groups – such as women and indigenous people – in decision making and policies formulation as parties tend to be mostly affected. In its practice, decentralized, non-elitist approaches complemented with frequent discussion are also quintessential to diminish conflict of interest. One of these approaches, Hening stated, is through utilization of religious institutions and interfaith movements.

Second speakers, Li Edi, argued that religious bodies in Indonesia plays a crucial role in influencing people’s behaviour beliefs, thereby possessing power to invoke believers with a strong sense of environmental ethics and justice. This so called “eco-theology” approach provide a more effective instrument for advocating collective effort in environmental preservation than pure secular perspectives, noting Buddhist concept of “sabbe sattha bhavantu sukhi tata” as example.

The main challenge, however, is that religious sermons often remain confined to an exclusive theological discussion. Therefore, Li Edi highlighted that we should move beyond this discourse and engage sermons with contemporary environmental issues as well as fostering interfaith collaboration to cultivate harmony

Similarly, third speakers, Charles, stated that renewable energy transition ought to be community-based, for that within a system of action, eco-liberation – the idea that environmental and human justice are inseparable pursuits – can only be achieved through collective commitment of decision-makers, politicians, stakeholders as well as indigenous and local communities. Without unity, disparities will become an obstacle to further innovation. He reminded that faith must be manifested through genuine and universal action, not merely through the ritual and commands prescribed in holy scriptures.

Gen Z

As a member of Generation Z who cares deeply about the future of our environment, I believe that the discussion theme raised by Greenfaith—a nonprofit organization focused on environmental issues—is highly relevant and important to be promoted more widely.

All parties, especially decision-makers, need to make the preservation of the Earth a primary consideration in every development and industrial policy. Collective awareness, collaborations and interfaith movements can serve as powerful forces bring about real change toward a just and sustainable energy transition.

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