Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (Left) declared victory in presidential election on Feb. 14. (Photo: Prabowo Subianto)
From coal, nickel, palm oil to rainforests, Indonesia’s riches matter to the rest of the world, as does its presidential election.
Prabowo Subianto, a former army general, has claimed victory as the country’s next president. The new government’s approach on the management of its natural resources could have a significant effect on the world’s ability to keep global warming to relatively safe levels.
Prabowo’s two initiatives clash
Indonesia is the largest exporter of coal, the fossil fuel that must quickly stop burning to avoid the consequences of global warming. But Indonesia also has huge reserves of nickel, which is vital to battery-making and the transition to greener energy.
