Climate Disinformation in Indonesia: Prioritising Development Over Indigenous Peoples’ Vulnerability
This report addresses the systemic prioritisation of development over Indigenous Peoples’ vulnerability by examining the mechanisms and impacts of climate disinformation on Indigenous communities in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, Indigenous Peoples comprise an estimated 18–26 percent (50–70 million) of the country’s 284.5 million population (International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, 2025; Statistics Indonesia, 2025). Despite their significant demographic presence, IPs face deepening structural vulnerabilities as the government prioritises national development agendas.
President Prabowo Subianto’s administration continues a state-led development strategy reframed as “human-centric” growth, which positions extractive industrialisation as central to national development and as beneficial to Indigenous Peoples. This framing downplays the social, environmental and climate impacts on Indigenous communities. Climate disinformation contributes by prioritising development objectives over Indigenous rights and limiting Indigenous participation in decision-making affecting their lands and territories.
This report introduced the role of climate disinformation towards this goal and pointed to the urgent need for a reimagined approach to climate governance, one grounded in justice, plurality and the full recognition of Indigenous self-determination.
