By IGG Maha Adi
Director, Green Press Indonesia
Indonesia seems to be at the center of the debate about women, climate, and tokenism. In spite of encouraging statistics regarding the representation of women in politics, the presence of a specific ministry responsible for handling problems that arise from the impact of climate change, and another focusing on the rights of women and children, in reality, the issue remains unresolved.
Women and climate in Indonesia are not handled through specific programs but through political promises. Women are thus ill-equipped to deal with the consequences of climate change due to the lack of necessary measures taken by Indonesian government institutions.
At first glance, Indonesia appears to have joined the worldwide movement concerning women and climate and made certain commitments towards the empowerment of women and the handling of climate-induced vulnerabilities. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that these promises are merely empty words that dissipate in Indonesia’s political whirlpool.
The presence of 30% women in parliament as the benchmark for women’s representation fails to guarantee that legislative actions will be strong enough in terms of a gender-based approach. As an illustration of this contradiction, the Omnibus Law enacted in 2020 did not improve the situation of female workers. On the contrary, it made their position even more vulnerable. Such inconsistencies contribute to poverty and violence against women.
Although Indonesia boasts a ministry for women and children, closer examination shows a disturbing lack of transparent, sustainable programs, adequate budgets, and strategic plans aimed at solving the multiple problems arising from the intersection of women and climate. The existence of such a ministry alone is not enough—it is only concrete action that demonstrates a genuine commitment to addressing women’s issues, particularly those related to climate change.
Similarly, the ministry responsible for addressing climate change impacts has shown inconsistency between rhetoric and action. Despite identifying women and climate as a policy priority, there remains a noticeable absence of specific initiatives designed to help women cope with the impacts of climate change.
The danger of tokenism lies in the fact that such an approach serves more to satisfy public opinion than to solve the problems at hand. As a result, the narrative surrounding women and climate becomes merely a pawn in a political chess game—used to meet public expectations or create the illusion of justice rather than deliver meaningful change.
To escape the trap of tokenism, Indonesia must move beyond symbolic commitments and embrace substantive action. This requires a paradigm shift toward a more holistic approach that integrates gender responsiveness into climate policies.
First, the 30% representation of women in parliament should translate into legislation that not only protects women’s rights but also empowers women to confront the consequences of climate change. The experience of the 2020 Omnibus Law should serve as an important lesson for legislators to prioritize gender-responsive policymaking.
Second, the ministry for women and children should evolve from being merely a bureaucratic institution into a genuine driver of social transformation. It must be supported by sustainable programs, adequate budget allocations, and strategic action plans that clearly demonstrate its commitment to advancing women’s rights, especially in the context of climate resilience.
Lastly, the ministry responsible for climate change must transform its rhetoric into tangible action. This means developing programs specifically tailored to the unique challenges faced by women in the climate crisis, strengthening women’s resilience, expanding economic opportunities, and amplifying women’s voices in environmental decision-making processes.
In summary, Indonesia stands at a crossroads between rhetoric and action. The persistence of tokenism in addressing women and climate not only hinders national progress but also deepens the vulnerability of those most affected. By redefining priorities, allocating adequate resources, and implementing genuinely gender-sensitive policies, Indonesia has the opportunity to become a beacon of substantive change rather than another example of political tokenism.
The first version of this article was published on TheNusantaraPost.com on March 8, 2024. Due to accessibility issues on the website, this opinion piece has been republished.