Government Policies in Egypt and Indonesia to Mitigate Carbon Emissions: A Comparative Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69606/geography.v3i4.371Keywords:
carbon emissions, climate policy, renewable energy, comparative analysis, green financeAbstract
Accelerating global climate change and increasing pressure to fulfill commitments under the Paris Agreement have positioned the effectiveness of national carbon mitigation policies as a critical policy issue for developing countries. This review article compares carbon mitigation policies in Egypt and Indonesia, both of which face similar challenges but operate within different governance contexts. The study employs a descriptive comparative analysis based on a systematic review of national climate strategies, legal frameworks, renewable energy policies, sustainable transport initiatives, private sector engagement, and climate finance mechanisms. Both countries have achieved significant policy progress; however, the effectiveness of carbon mitigation remains constrained by governance challenges, particularly policy coordination, bureaucratic efficiency, and implementation capacity. This study argues that a hybrid policy approach combining Egypt’s regulatory strengths with Indonesia’s long-term planning framework has the potential to enhance carbon mitigation effectiveness. These findings provide policy-relevant implications for other developing countries seeking to strengthen climate governance and accelerate progress toward global emission reduction targets.
References
Abbass, R. A., Kumar, P., & El-Gendy, A. (2021). Fine Particulate Matter Exposure in Four Transport Modes of Greater Cairo. Science of The Total Environment, 791, 148104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148104
Abdelmeguid, N., & M. Ibrahiem, D. (2025). Decarbonizing Egypt’s Energy Sector: Pathways for an Accelerated Energy Transition. Review of Economics and Political Science, 10(4), 303–322. https://doi.org/10.1108/REPS-03-2024-0001
Ardila-Gomez, A., Bianchi Alves, B., & Moody, J. (2021). Decarbonizing Cities by Improving Public Transport and Managing Land Use and Traffic (Discussion Paper). The World Bank. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/dec35433d7ba89e18cf01a124bd8d059-0190062021/original/TDI-paper-Decarbonizing-Cities-by-Improving-Public-Transport-and-Managing-Land-Use-and-Traffic-October-2021.pdf
Asia Pacific Energy. (2007). Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 30/2007 on Energy. Retrieved from. https://policy.asiapacificenergy.org
Averchenkova, A., Fankhauser, S., & Finnegan, J. J. (2021). The Impact of Strategic Climate Legislation: Evidence from Expert Interviews on the UK Climate Change Act. Climate Policy, 21(2), 251–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2020.1819190
Bappenas. (2019). Low Carbon Development: A Paradigm Shift Towards a Green Economy in Indonesia. Jakarta: Bappenas.
Biermann, F., & Pattberg, P. (Eds.). (2012). Global Environmental Governance Reconsidered. The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9232.001.0001
Bistline, J., Blanford, G., Mai, T., & Merrick, J. (2021). Modeling variable renewable energy and storage in the power sector. Energy Policy, 156, 112424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112424
Bridle, R., Sharma, S., Mostafa, M., & Geddes, A. (2019). Fossil Fuel to Clean Energy Subsidy Swaps: How to Pay for an Energy Revolution (GSI Report). International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://fsmountain.org/ce/iisd-fossil-fuel-clean-energy-subsidy-swap.pdf
Climate Change Laws of the World. (2014). Regulation No.79 on National Energy Policy 2014-Climate Change Laws of the World. https://climate-laws.org/document/regulation-no-79-on-national-energy-policy-2014_d96e
Climate Change Laws of the World. (2015). Law n. 87/2015-Electricity Law-Climate Change Laws of the World. https://climate-laws.org/document/law-n-87-2015-electricity-law_4853
Dubash, N. K., Pillai, A. V., Flachsland, C., Harrison, K., Hochstetler, K., Lockwood, M., MacNeil, R., Mildenberger, M., Paterson, M., Teng, F., & Tyler, E. (2021). National Climate Institutions Complement Targets and Policies. Science, 374(6568), 690–693. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abm1157
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency. (2024). State of the Environment Report 2020. https://www.eeaa.gov.eg/Uploads/Reports/Files/20240109131950475.pdf
Egypt’s Environmental Protection Is Law No. 4 of 1994. https://www.gafi.gov.eg/English/StartaBusiness/Laws-and-Regulations/PublishingImages/Pages/BusinessLaws/enviromental.pdf
Elsherif, M. (2023). Green Financing as a Tool to Mitigate Climate Change for Sustainable Development: an Insight form Egypt. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 13(3), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.14235
Government of Indonesia. (2016). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 16 Tahun 2016 tentang Pengesahan Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/37573
Hale, T. (2020). Catalytic Cooperation. Global Environmental Politics, 20(4), 73–98. https://doi.org/10.1162/glep_a_00561
Halldén, F., Hultberg, A., Ahmed, A., Uddin, G. S., Yahya, M., & Troster, V. (2025). The Role of Institutional Quality on Public Renewable Energy Investments. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 215, 115585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115585
Howlett, M., Ramesh, M., & Perl, A. (2020). Studying Public Policy: Principles and Processes (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
IEA. (2019). Indonesia—Countries & Regions. IEA. https://www.iea.org/countries/indonesia/emissions
IEA. (2023). Egypt—Countries & Regions. IEA. https://www.iea.org/countries/egypt
IRENA. (2018). Renewable Energy Outlook: Egypt.
Jordan, A., Huitema, D., Van Asselt, H., & Forster, J. (Eds.). (2018). Governing Climate Change: Polycentricity in Action? (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108284646
Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral Republik Indonesia [KESDM RI]. (2025). Handbook of Energy and Economic Statistics of Indonesia 2024. https://www.esdm.go.id/assets/media/content/content-handbook-of-energy-and-economic-statistics-of-indonesia-2024.pdf
Ministry of Finance. (2018). Green Sukuk: Financing Indonesia’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Jakarta: Fiscal Policy Agency. https://www.djppr.kemenkeu.go.id
Nachmany, M., & Setzer, J. (2017). Global Trends in Climate Change Legislation and Litigation. In D. Bodansky, J. E. Viñuales & A. R. Reinisch (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of International Climate Change Law (pp. 1–25). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004322714_cclc_2017-0148-002
OECD. (2025). Institutional Review of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development in Egypt. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/6e3d1a01-en
Otoritas Jasa Keuangan [OJL]. (2014). Sustainable Finance Roadmap Phase I (2015–2019). Financial Services Authority of Indonesia. https://www.ojk.go.id
Purdon, M. (2017). Neoclassical Realism and International Climate Change Politics: Moral Imperative and Political Constraint in International Climate Finance. Journal of International Relations and Development, 20(2), 263–300. https://doi.org/10.1057/jird.2013.5
Renneboog, L., Ter Horst, J., & Zhang, C. (2008). Socially Responsible Investments: Institutional Aspects, Performance, and Investor Behavior. Journal of Banking & Finance, 32(9), 1723–1742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2007.12.039
Republic of Egypt. (2014). Renewable Energy Law No. 203 of 2014 (Benban Solar Power Plant).
Ridho, Z., & Marlinda, A. P. (2025). From Energy Security to Energy Justice: Indonesia’s Renewable Energy Transition in the Global Climate Governance Regime. BIO Web of Conferences, 199, 02004. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202519902004
Schleussner, C.-F., Rogelj, J., Schaeffer, M., Lissner, T., Licker, R., Fischer, E. M., Knutti, R., Levermann, A., Frieler, K., & Hare, W. (2016). Science and Policy Characteristics of the Paris Agreement Temperature Goal. Nature Climate Change, 6(9), 827–835. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3096
State Information Service. (2024, March 3). Egypt National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) 2050. https://sis.gov.eg/en/media-center/strategies/egypt-national-climate-change-strategy-nccs-2050/
UNFCCC. (2015). Paris Agreement. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/file/english_paris_agreement.pdf
UNFCCC. (2020). National Determined Contribution (NDC) update: Egypt. UNFCCC Secretariat. https://unfccc.int/
United Nations Industrial Development Organization. (2024). Enhancing and showcasing Egypt’s leadership in cleantech innovation for climate action and energy transition (Approved readiness proposal). Green Climate Fund. https://www.greenclimate.fund/document/enhancing-and-showcasing-egypt-s-leadership-cleantech-innovation-climate-action-and-energy
United Nations Development Programme [UNDP]. (2021). Indonesia’s Low Carbon Development Initiative: Progress and Path Forward. UNDP Indonesia. https://www.id.undp.org
Wahba, H., & Abourayia, R. (2025). The Impact of Climate Change Factors on ESG Performance in Egypt (Preprint). Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8081013/v1
Wojtaszek, H. (2025). Renewable Energy in Policy Frameworks: A Comparative Analysis of EU and Global Strategies for Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 17(23), 10567. https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310567
World Bank. (2020). Egypt Country Environmental Analysis. The World Bank. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099060724102526103/pdf/P177404106b5b80f11a23e16049bae40947.pdf
World Bank & International Finance Corporation. (2020). Country Private Sector Diagnostic: Creating markets in Egypt-Realizing the Full Potential of a Productive Private Sector. The World Bank. 8811613142382664/pdf/Country-Private-Sector-Diagnostic-Creating-Markets-in-Egypt-Realizing-the-Full-Potential-of-a-Productive-Private-Sector.pdf
World Bank. (2022). Green Transition of Transport in Egypt: Updates from Greater Cairo Mobility Assessment and Public Transport Improvement Study (MAPTIS). The World Bank. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099032524150032157/pdf/P17648814f133509b18a6915800b48062cd.pdf.
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our common future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (A/42/427). United Nations. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5987our-common-future.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ghada Abd Elsattar Mohammed Oraby, Amira Abd Elsattar Mohamed Orabi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.



