Category Archives: Editorial

In memory of Professors Subroto and Kuntoro Mangkusubroto

The convening power of meritocratic leaders

There are common learnings that today’s aspiring leaders may want to learn from both “Pak Broto” and “Pak Kun”: (1) embrace hardships and foster camaraderie, (2) integrity as a long-term habit, (3) nationalism and internationalism, (4) deep substance and wide interests, and (5) proven delivery.
Also posted in Energy, Indonesia |
Possible scenarios for the Indonesian energy system 2030

Bandung Scenarios

"Well thought out trajectories on how Indonesia’s energy sector could develop and take shape in 2030 can help inform and guide all stakeholders involved […] and help provide Indonesia’s new government with valuable input as it formulates new policies and strategies"
Also posted in Business & Society, Energy |
Opinion at the Jakarta Post

Institutional credibility at the core of sustainable energy transition

Indonesia’s fossil resources have helped brought it becoming a middle-income country. What got us here, won’t take us where we need to be. Whether or not the global energy transition will also propel Indonesia out of the middle-income trap heavily depends on the quality of its institutions. Carbon-intensive development can be leapfrogged, institutional credibility cannot.
Also posted in Business & Society, Climate Change, Energy, Indonesia, Miscellaneous |
Opinion at the Jakarta Post:

Sustainable Development Goals in business school curricula to help address “colossal global dysfunction”

Business schools need to equip their students (regulars and executives alike) with (i) the intellectual capacity to understand the complex challenges, dilemmas, trade-offs, but also major opportunities in the broader business environment; (ii) the moral compass in guiding their future decisions; and (iii) the skillsets to deliver the required (business) outcomes.
Also posted in Business & Society |
T20 Indonesia 2022 Policy Brief:

A climate change investment treaty amongst carbon-critical countries

The unprecedented investment gap in energy transition requires an additional US$2 trillion/year more investment in energy systems. This investment must be focused on carbon-critical countries if the world is to see change at the required scale and pace. A growing number of private and public investors are persuaded, but they lack the certainty necessary to justify taking the economic and political risks inherent in energy-transition investment. This paper proposes a novel approach to a proven concept of more than 3,000 investment treaties currently operational: a Climate Change Investment Treaty, focused on protecting carbon-critical investment in carbon-critical countries to help navigate the wicked problem that is energy transition.
Also posted in Business & Society, Climate Change, Energy |
Opinion at the Jakarta Post:

G20 must drive massive and targeted investment ramp-ups amidst multiple crises

The G20 summit of 2022 has their work cut out. In our view this concerns restoring trust in the SDG-agenda and nurture its potential to align state policies for sustainable development and corporate strategies in support of the SDGs.  Before the leaders leave the Island of Gods, every communique they convey to the world will have bearings on investment decisions globally – and many would pray towards a more resilient world. After all, businesses cannot thrive in a society that fails and societies cannot be resilient where businesses blunder.
Also posted in Business & Society |
Opinion at the Jakarta Post:

De-risking climate investments in energy transition

The problem of attracting sufficient investment for energy transition is enormously complex. The global energy system comprises the largest and most expensive infrastructure built over centuries of investments across the chain, and we now only have a very short window to transform it. For this endeavor to succeed, investments in energy transition need to be significantly de-risked.
Also posted in Business & Society, Climate Change, Energy |
Opinion at The Jakarta Post:

Indonesia can lead G20 in sustainable energy transition

It may feel a bit like a strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde when we speak highly of green energy and energy transition whilst at the same time scramble to secure coal supply. In the early weeks of 2022, the Indonesian government had to take measures to ensure that (coal-fired) electricity is not […]
Also posted in Business & Society, Climate Change, Energy | Tagged |
“Fratelli Tutti”:

Stark reminders to be (much) wiser in the digital age

It is remarkable that an organization that has been around for two millennia is able to deeply reflect on contemporary matters – with great relevance. The Catholic church is certainly not without flaws and its doctrines have not always been “wise” by many standards. Nevertheless, Pope Francis’ third papal letter or encyclical, “Fratelli tutti” (=”All […]
Also posted in Contemplations |