How Indonesia can avoid the carbon credits gimmick (Mohd. Yunus – Lowy The Interpreter)

At the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November 2025, Indonesia arrived with a pipeline of around 90 million tonnes of potential carbon credits, expecting nearly US$960 million in transactions. Yet it secured commitments for only US$2.75 million. This was not simply a disappointing week of negotiations; it signaled that Indonesia’s carbon credit strategy rests on weaker demand, credibility and governance foundations than its policymakers acknowledge.

How Indonesia can avoid the carbon credits gimmick | Lowy Institute