Webinar – Human Rights, Climate Change, Business and Indigenous Peoples: Indonesia’s Food Estate in Merauke and Its Impacts: Indonesia’s Climate Bomb

This is the third webinar in a dedicated series that explored the impacts of the rapid expansion of Indonesia’s Food Estates strategy in Merauke, West Papua, Indonesia. It will focus on the threats to Indigenous Peoples rights, biodiversity and the environment. Promoted as necessary for national food security, it conflicts with Indonesia’s international commitments on climate change, biodiversity and human rights – and international standards on Free, Prior and Informed Consent. The impacts of deforestation extend beyond Indonesia’s borders; with predictions it will accelerate global climate heating. Concerns have been raised by local communities, national and international NGO’s and UN human rights experts.

This third webinar discussed the findings of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) regarding the Merauke National Strategic Project (PSN). The project itself has drawn international public attention at COP Brazil 2025, along with expressions of solidarity from Pacific countries. At the upcoming COP in Turkiye, Australia will serve as a co-host for the pre-COP meeting in partnership with Pacific countries.

March 11, 2026

This is the first webinar in our series which introduced the EU guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and their relevance for frontline human rights defenders. It will draw directly on the experience of practitioners – from the EU and from Frontline Defenders. It will build awareness of the content of the Guidelines and the actions they call for from EU Embassies and Diplomats – with some real examples.