CERAH Open Column Competition 2025: A Writing Space for Indonesia’s Energy Transition and Climate Justice

The CERAH Open Column Competition 2025 is officially open! Carrying the theme “Our Story, Our Energy: A Writing Space for Indonesia’s Energy Transition and Climate Justice”, this competition invites everyone to voice their opinions, critiques, or hopes for Indonesia’s energy future.

This is more than just a writing contest, it’s a call to action. It’s an opportunity to monitor government promises, scrutinize flawed policies, and inspire the public to be part of the movement toward clean, fair, and sustainable energy. With a total prize of IDR 5,000,000 and the chance to have your work published on cerah.or.id and CERAH’s social media, your voice can reach far and make an impact.

Why Writing for the Energy Transition Matters

Indonesia stands at a crucial crossroads in achieving a just energy transition. The government has committed to phasing out coal-fired power plants by 2040 and building 75 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity. Without public oversight, however, these targets risk shifting toward false solutions that still rely on fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, the climate crisis demands urgent action. While many countries are moving away from coal, Indonesian coal companies are expanding, purchasing mines overseas and continuing domestic growth. At the same time, the downstream processing of critical minerals like nickel, a key for renewable energy technologies still depends on captive coal power plants, contributing to high emissions.

By writing, you can:

• Educate the public about the realities of the energy transition.

• Hold policymakers and industry players accountable.

• Amplify the voices of communities impacted by dirty energy projects.

Topics You Can Explore

Participants are encouraged to develop creative and critical perspectives. Suggested topics include:

1. Just Energy Transition

While the government has promised to reduce coal dependence and increase renewable energy, without justice principles, the transition risks benefiting only a few while leaving vulnerable groups behind.

2. Coal Financing

Despite the growing urgency of the climate crisis, Indonesian financial institutions still fund coal projects. Your article could explore the link between the banking sector, investments, and Indonesia’s energy future.

3. Critical Minerals

As the world’s top nickel producer, Indonesia plays a key role in the global energy transition. Yet nickel downstreaming often creates environmental and social issues. Is it possible to build a truly sustainable nickel industry?

4. Climate & Energy Policies

Key policies like the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) and the 2025 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) must be monitored to ensure they genuinely promote climate justice, not just numbers on paper.

Competition Rules and Requirements

To ensure fairness and quality, all participants must follow these rules:

1. The work must be original and unpublished in any media.

2. Minimum length: 1,000 words, written in Indonesian and following proper grammar rules (PUEBI).

3. Participants may refer to CERAH’s reports available at www.cerah.or.id.

4. Must include a statement of originality declaring the work is your own.

5. Content must not include violence, pornography, hate speech, or discriminatory material.

6. Judges’ decisions are final. The committee reserves the right to reject entries that do not meet the requirements or revoke awards if plagiarism is found.

How to Register and Submit Your Work

Registration is online via bit.ly/CERAHOpenColumn2025.

In the registration form, participants must include a Google Drive folder link containing:

• The written work in document format.

• The statement of originality.

Ensure the folder access is set to “Anyone with the link can view” so the committee can review it.

Deadlines and Competition Timeline

Mark your calendar:

• August 1 – September 9, 2025: Registration & submission period (deadline: September 9, 2025, 23:59 WIB).

• September 10 – 24, 2025: Judging & selection process.

• September 26, 2025: Announcement of the top 10 works.

• September 29, 2025: Announcement of the top 3 winners.

Prizes and Publication Opportunities

A total of IDR 5,000,000 in prizes will be awarded:

• 🥇 1st Place: IDR 2,500,000

• 🥈 2nd Place: IDR 1,500,000

• 🥉 3rd Place: IDR 1,000,000

The top 10 works will be published on cerah.or.id. The top 3 winners will also have their articles adapted into collaborative content on CERAH’s social media channels, allowing your ideas to reach an even broader audience.

Tips for Writing a Strong Competition Entry

To increase your chances of winning:

• Choose a topic you know well or one supported by solid data.

• Use a unique perspective, such as personal experience, field reporting, or in-depth analysis.

• Support your arguments with reliable facts and statistics.

• Write clearly and persuasively, while following grammar and structure rules.

• Connect local issues with global contexts to strengthen relevance.

Join the Movement Toward Indonesia’s Clean Energy Future

The CERAH Open Column Competition 2025 is your chance to merge your writing skills with meaningful action for Indonesia’s energy future. By encouraging public participation, we can ensure the energy transition is fair, prioritizes people’s welfare, and protects the environment.

If you care about clean energy, want to voice climate justice concerns, or simply wish to test your writing skills, now is the time.

Submit your best work via bit.ly/CERAHOpenColumn2025 before September 9, 2025.
Let’s work together toward a clean, fair, and sustainable energy future.