Bappenas urges immediate green job creation for sustainable growth

Minister of National Development Planning and head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy urged immediate action to create green jobs during his speech at the Indonesia Green Jobs Conference (IGJC) 2026 in Jakarta on Wednesday. He highlighted the importance of shifting the workforce toward sustainable sectors as part of Indonesia’s broader development strategy. The call comes amid growing concerns over global economic instability and the need for long-term resilience through environmentally conscious practices. The conference took place against a backdrop of Indonesia’s ambitious goals to boost the share of new and renewable energy in its primary energy mix from 20 percent to 70 percent by 2045. According to Bappenas, achieving even half of this target could result in millions of new employment opportunities across multiple sectors including energy, manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, tourism, and marine industries. The minister warned that failing to act swiftly could have severe consequences for both the nation and the global economy. Current data from Bappenas indicates that approximately 3.45 million individuals, or 2.5 percent of Indonesia’s total workforce, are already engaged in environmental conservation roles. However, the ministry estimates that around 49.12 million workers, accounting for 36.5 percent of the labor force, could potentially transition into green jobs with appropriate training and policy support. To facilitate this shift, Bappenas is working on establishing new national standards, performance metrics, and classification systems to identify and promote low-carbon, water-efficient, and renewable-energy-related positions within agriculture and industrial sectors. Rachmat emphasized that the transformation extends beyond mere job relocation. It involves altering work methods, adopting new technologies, and updating the skills required for these roles. “This change is not just about changing where people work, but also changing the form of work, changing work processes, changing the technology used, and changing the required competencies,” he stated. To realize these objectives, the government has outlined three key strategies. First, it plans to build a robust industry ecosystem that supports green initiatives. Second, it intends to enhance vocational education programs to ensure the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills. Third, it seeks to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, private enterprises, and labor organizations to drive progress. The minister expressed optimism about leveraging the green transformation as a catalyst for producing a future-ready workforce and fostering a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economy. His remarks were echoed by officials from Denmark, with whom Indonesia is exploring cooperative efforts in green job creation. Such international partnerships are seen as crucial for aligning domestic policies with global sustainability trends and best practices. As the government moves forward with implementing these strategies, attention will focus on how effectively these measures can translate into tangible employment outcomes. The success of this initiative will depend on the extent to which these policies are integrated into existing frameworks and the level of stakeholder engagement across all relevant sectors.