Cross-sectoral policy integration of forest biomass for renewable energy in Indonesia

Promoted as a strategy to reduce emissions, the use of forest biomass for renewable energy requires cross-sectoral policy integration between the forest and energy sectors. In this paper, integration is examined through coherence and consistency of policies. Policy coherence refers to alignment of policy objectives of the focal sectors with the goal of reducing carbon emissions. Consistency is assessed by looking at: 1) conformity with stated objectives, 2) consistency across regulations, 3) unaddressed trade-offs, and 4) regulatory gaps. We used those indicators to assess 18 key thematic areas. An initial analysis shows a coherence of the policy objectives of both sectors, centered around the overarching national goal of reducing emission through forest biomass utilization. However, findings on the consistency of regulatory instruments are more nuanced. While the indicator of regulatory alignment is largely fulfilled, we found several inconsistencies of rules and unaddressed trade-offs in several thematic areas, mainly related to the absence of prioritization by and formal commitment of the forest sector to supply biomass due to issues related to fair prices and tariffs. In addition, there is a great deal of regulatory vacuum governing the utilization of biomass for energy. Overall, we conclude the cross-sectoral policy integration is largely symbolic, driven by higher-level pressures, rather than the result of genuine cooperation. While this study focuses on Indonesia, the identified challenges such as sectoral silos and top-down alignment appear common in forest-based biomass initiatives in many countries, where institutional fragmentation often impedes coherent energy transitions.