Green Election: Realizing environmentally friendly election campaigns in Indonesia

Elections in Indonesia are a vibrant democratic celebration and political rhetoric. The sight of colorful banners, giant billboards, and scattered campaign posters in public spaces becomes a routine spectacle come each election season. But what happens in the aftermath, when the props are no longer needed? They become abandoned waste, turning election campaigns into significant environmental burdens. Can Green Election offer a solution to this problem?

Waste Problems

In Indonesia, the election campaign period is marked by the presence of campaign banners, posters, and other props, from the city streets to rural areas. They are mounted everywhere from electric poles to the back of public transportation cars to trees. The props usually contain the candidate’s name and photo, political party, number in the election paper, and campaign slogan. Essentially, they aim to familiarize the public with who to vote for.

However, after the campaign period ends, these props often go unmanaged and become waste that pollutes the environment. Data from the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) states  that Indonesia generated 17.4 million tons of waste in 2023, with 18.8% of it being plastic. This figure was expected to rise sharply after the 2024 elections as legislative and regional elections occurred simultaneously.

PVC-based campaign props present a serious environmental threat. This plastic takes centuries to decompose, damaging ecosystems, polluting oceans, and exacerbating an already concerning environmental crisis.

Additionally, although visually-driven campaigns can reach a broader public, they often fail to significantly impact the quality of democracy and the election process. The production and installation of these props often lead to surging campaign costs and largely divert parties’ focus from presenting idea-based campaigns to perpetuating budget-dependent popularity-based campaigns that are wasteful.

Green Election as Potential Solution

The concept of Green Election can be a viable solution to address the election-related waste issue in Indonesia. Green Election refers to practices that reduce the environmental impacts of electoral processes.

During the 2024 election period, Bali’s capital city, Denpasar, initiated the implementation of the Green Election. The Denpasar Election Commission (KPU), supported by the Bali Provincial KPU, promoted the use of videotrons and social media as alternatives to physical campaigning. Various stakeholders initially welcomed this initiative, as digital campaigns are seen as potentially effective solutions to reduce the use of physical props and, ultimately, the waste they create.

However, this initiative faces a significant challenge: the absence of an Election Commission Regulation (PKPU) that provides a legal foundation for implementing Green Election. The lack of a legal basis made on-the-ground implementation inconsistent. Without strong regulation, the Green Election in Denpasar remains more of a discourse than a tangible implementation.

In addition to shifting to digital campaigns, candidates and parties must begin formulating waste management strategies. The concept that election waste can be managed as a valuable commodity provides an alternative solution to this issue. If properly managed, campaign prop waste can be converted into recyclable materials or other useful products, simultaneously reducing the burden on local waste disposal systems approaching overcapacity.

Stronger Regulations Needed

Between ideas and discourse, Green Election stands at a crossroads. The case of the Green Election initiative in Denpasar shows that innovations cannot yield tangible results without commitment and clear regulations. Strong regulations and cross-sectoral collaboration are key to ensuring that the Green Election becomes a democratic legacy that is just and sustainable.

The Central Election Commission (KPU) plays a key role in advancing Green Election. The first step is to draft and pass a PKPU specifically regulating the concept of a green election. This regulation should include technical guidelines for the use of environmentally friendly materials, mechanisms for managing campaign prop waste, and incentives for candidates who opt for sustainable campaign methods.

Once regulations are in place, the KPU must conduct extensive outreach and training for election organizers at all levels. This step is crucial to ensure that all parties understand and are prepared to implement the new policies. Monitoring and evaluation should also be strengthened to assess the effectiveness of Green Election implementation, involving the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) and the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) in overseeing physical campaign props.

Transforming Indonesia’s Political Culture

Ultimately, Green Election is not merely a technical issue but a transformation of political culture. By reducing the ecological footprint of elections, we create space for more substantive ideological debates. Voters are no longer presented with flashy banners and billboards but with ideas and work programs relevant to their needs.

Environmentally friendly elections also serve as a public education tool on the importance of sustainability in all aspects of life. When environmental issues become an integral part of the democratic process, we instill a larger collective awareness of the need to protect this planet.

In a political climate that often offers only noise, Green Election offers hope: that democracy is an essential part of progress toward a more sustainable and just future.

Editor: Kresentia Madina & Nazalea Kusuma

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