Critical Geopolitics of Global Environmental Norms: Exploring Indonesia’s Response to Climate Mitigation Agenda

This article delves into the complex dynamics of global environmental governance, focusing on the role of developing countries in shaping climate mitigation efforts. While the design of global environmental norms often favours the interests of the Global North, the Global South challenges this hegemony through localised adaptation of these norms. By adopting a critical geopolitical perspective, the study highlights the agency of developing countries in global environmental governance processes. Economic growth interests significantly influence the localisation of environmental agendas, especially in countries where the need to reduce poverty and develop the economy often clashes with environmental goals. Through a case study of Indonesia, the research investigates how its economic development agenda shapes the localisation of climate mitigation efforts. Indonesia is particularly important given its position as a major coal exporter and user in the world. The study finds that Indonesia's cognitive priors in terms of natural resources and their roles in the economy and power generation have strongly influenced the country's selective emphasis and two-pronged responses to global climate norms. This type of response demonstrates the complexities of balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability in the Global South, potentially challenging the overall effectiveness of the global climate regime.