Inovasi Muda and Pijar Foundation Promote Youth-Driven Policies and Actions for Green Jobs

Inovasi Muda, in collaboration with Pijar Foundation, held Townhall Muda Bandung—a satellite event under the 2025 Indonesia Green Jobs Summit (IGJS), themed “Shaping Sustainable Careers for Green Economy,” on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Carrying the topic “Navigating Public Policy for a Thriving Green Workforce,” the forum brought together youth with policymakers and thought leaders to strategize building a green employment ecosystem at both local and national levels.

Townhall Muda Bandung featured three key speakers: Anthony Marwan Dermawan (Chief of Policy, Pijar Foundation), Anton Sunarwibowo, S.T., M.T. (Head of Bappelitbang Bandung City), and Restu Andiri (Executive Director, Inovasi Muda), moderated by Dimas Dwi Pangestu (Founder of Trash Ranger Indonesia).

Restu Andini highlighted the strong linkage between green jobs and the climate crisis, including the challenge of skill mismatch in the green job market. She also emphasized the importance of a national green jobs occupation map to guide the development of relevant education, training, and certification schemes.

She also shared practical examples from the Green Innovation Hub program, which has successfully developed a community-based green job incubation model. The discussion continued with Anthony Marwan Dermawan, Chief of Policy at Pijar Foundation, who drew attention to the low youth participation in public policy—currently only 12% globally.

He explained that public policy affects many aspects of life, including food prices, education, and employment—yet there is still limited space for young people to engage meaningfully.

Using an approach adapted from the OECD framework—Informing, Consulting, Collaborating, Empowering—Anthony advocated for models such as policy taskforces and public-community partnerships that allow youth to directly contribute as young consultants or local policy change drivers.

Meanwhile, Anton Sunarwibowo, S.T., M.T., Head of Bappelitbang for Bandung City, outlined the Bandung Government’s policy and strategy to drive a sustainable economy. Development efforts are focused on environmentally friendly MSMEs, digitalization for resource efficiency, sustainable tourism, and circular economy development.

The Bandung government also partners with BBPVP and BLK to offer training in renewable energy and waste management, while running green internship programs, business incubators, and green talent accelerators.

These initiatives are supported by budget allocations for training in the regional budget (APBD) and infrastructure development for green entrepreneurship-based training centers.

Townhall Muda Bandung served as a real-life example of the importance of cross-sector and intergenerational dialogue to ensure that future policies are responsive to emerging challenges.

The Benefits of Green Jobs

Green jobs are roles that contribute to environmental preservation or restoration—whether in traditional sectors (like manufacturing and construction) or emerging green sectors (like renewable energy and energy efficiency). Here are the benefits of green jobs across several dimensions:

Environmental Benefits

• Reducing carbon emissions: Green jobs support the transition to clean energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

• Natural resource conservation: Encourages energy efficiency and sustainable resource use.

• Improved air and water quality: Roles in waste management, green transportation, and nature conservation help minimize pollution.

Economic Benefits

• New job creation: The green sector opens diverse employment opportunities—from solar energy to organic farming.

• Boosting economic competitiveness: Nations and companies investing in green technologies tend to be more innovative and sustainable.

• Long-term economic resilience: The green sector is generally more resistant to global crises due to its sustainability focus.

Social Benefits

• Community well-being: Green jobs often offer better working conditions and emphasize social impact.

• Upskilling and education: Encourages the development of new skills in tech and environmental sectors.

• Social and environmental justice: Promotes inclusion and job opportunities for vulnerable groups while preserving ecosystems.

Long-Term Benefits

• Supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Reduces climate disaster risks

• Builds a resilient green economy

  
  

These benefits reinforce the importance of green jobs in creating employment opportunities while caring for the planet—aligning directly with the purpose of Townhall Muda Bandung, which aimed to synergize policy and youth action for sustainable futures.

This initiative reinforces the message that the future of green employment can only be shaped through active youth participation, strong institutional support, and policy commitments to sustainability.

This article was originally published by Good News.