Green Criminology Against Environmental Harm and Environmental Crime Policy in Battery-Based Electric Vehicle Projects in Indonesia
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Indonesia has promoted battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, environmental harms associated with their life cycle have raised concerns about the sustainability of this transition. This study examined these environmental harms from a green criminological perspective and assessed the effectiveness of Indonesia's environmental criminal law policies in addressing them. A qualitative research approach was employed, combining a systematic literature review of 18 studies, an analysis of national environmental regulations and electric vehicle policies, and interviews with two informants representing an environmental nongovernmental organization and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The findings identified several environmental harms, including water contamination, air pollution, soil degradation, and ecosystem destruction, associated with mineral extraction, battery manufacturing, electricity generation, and end-of-life battery management. Dependence on coal-fired electricity and inadequate battery waste management further complicated the potential environmental benefits of BEVs. The policy analysis identified weaknesses in environmental law enforcement, limited public participation in environmental impact assessments, fragmented responsibilities for battery recycling, and insufficient environmental standards across production stages. From a green criminological perspective, the findings demonstrated that even legally authorized industrial activities could generate ecological harm and disproportionately affect local communities, workers, and nonhuman species. The study concluded that the expansion of BEVs in Indonesia required stronger environmental accountability throughout the battery and vehicle life cycles. Comprehensive environmental impact assessments, greater reliance on renewable energy, extended producer responsibility, meaningful public participation, and effective environmental law enforcement were identified as essential measures for advancing an energy transition that supports ecological sustainability and environmental justice.
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