Episode 2: People Power – Strong communities. Clean energy. Shared future.

Energy powers our everyday lives. But the way we produce it matters. Today, the use of fossil fuels—coal, oil, and gas—is one of the biggest drivers of the climate crisis. Moving away from fossil fuels is essential. Yet, the global energy transition is treated as simply replacing one energy source with another, without changing the systems that create inequality and environmental destruction.

International climate finance initiatives, such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), continue to prioritise large-scale, top-down projects that often come at the expense of communities in the Global South. In countries like Indonesia, forests are destroyed, livelihoods are threatened, and human rights are violated in the name of the energy transition.

Meanwhile, across Indonesia, community-led energy transition initiatives are emerging at the grassroots level. Built on local needs, knowledge, and resources, these projects provide tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits while strengthening communities.

In the second episode of Talks4Change, we explore what a community-led energy transition looks like through the experiences of Yayasan Rumah Energi with Danastri Widoningtyas (known as Ninis), Programme Manager at the foundation.

We discuss questions such as:

• What types of energy can communities produce themselves?
• What are the social, economic, and environmental impacts of community-based energy production?
• How can community-based energy production contribute to tackling climate change?
• What challenges do communities face in developing and maintaining these projects?
• What is needed to scale up community-based energy production?

One thing becomes clear: the energy transition is not just about replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy. It is about transforming the entire energy system and the mindset behind it. Instead of relying on large-scale, centralised energy projects that primarily generate profits for the energy industry, we need to support community-based energy systems that deliver genuine social and ecological justice.

To make a globally just energy transition a reality, international climate finance initiatives such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) must move beyond the logic of the fossil fuel era and prioritise community-led renewable energy solutions that empower people, protect the environment, and strengthen local resilience.

Tune in and join the discussion: Where does “transition” end – and where does real transformation begin?

Moderation: Beyrra Triasdian, Renewable Energy Portfolio Manager (Trend Asia)

Talks4Change is part of the project “Energy Transition and Climate Partnerships – Civil Society Perspectives and Approaches to Social and Global Justice Using the Example of Indonesia”

Disclaimer

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Watch Indonesia! e.V. The positions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of Engagement Global gGmbH or the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Several Practical examples of community-based energy transitions can alse be found here