Driving low-emission mobility in Indonesia

Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, particularly from burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel in vehicles. In the context of road transport, “decarbonization pathways” are the strategic routes or plans that countries like Indonesia can take to lower emissions from cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles.

These pathways involve a range of measures, from promoting electric vehicles to enhancing public transit and non-motorized transport options like biking and walking. Each measure offers different benefits and trade-offs, and understanding these is crucial to creating an effective transport policy.

At the heart of the workshop was the RTDP tool – a newly developed resource designed to help policymakers and urban planners assess the impact of various measures to reduce transport emissions. The tool also enables the exploration of other benefits, such as improved air quality and public health. Specifically tailored for Indonesia and six of its major cities, the tool uses historical data from 2010 to 2022 to project different decarbonization scenarios up to 2050.

Primarily a planning resource, the RTDP tool offers a flexible, evidence-based framework to evaluate the potential impacts of various interventions in the transport sector.

During the workshop’s interactive sessions, participants used the RTDP tool to simulate different scenarios, experimenting with various combinations of mitigation measures. The tool’s ability to model complex interactions between policies – such as how promoting non-motorized transport can reduce the need for vehicle electrification – was particularly valued. This feature helps users to understand not only the direct effects of policies but also their broader, interconnected impacts.

The main goal of the Jakarta workshop was to trial and gather valuable feedback from stakeholders on the tool. Over 50 participants, including representatives from Indonesian government ministries, provincial and city officials, and international partners, engaged in hands-on sessions where they applied the tool to develop and analyse decarbonization pathways for their regions.

As Indonesia continues to advance its climate goals, the insights and tools developed through the UK PACT programme, including the RTDP tool, will play a vital role in shaping the country’s transport policies. The feedback collected during the workshop will be used to refine the tool, ensuring it meets the needs of both national and local stakeholders.