Bali Clean Energy Forum (BCEF) 2016 (11 – 12 February 2016) was co-organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia (MEMR) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). BCEF showcased the Clean Energy Center of Excellence (CoE) to the international community as a platform towards a global partnership for clean energy deployment. At the same time, Bali was established as pilot project for clean energy in Indonesia. This forum aims to bring together government leaders, business leaders, international organizations, civil society and youth groups to discuss the framework and actions to bridge technological gaps and accelerate the development of clean energy at the national, regional and global level through global partnership. I was so honoured to be invited to youth forum by MEMR alongside 50 selected youth across Indonesia. We were selected based on our personal and community track record in energy issue. 

Why did the government bring special youth to the forum? Deeper inclusion of youth voices and causes in various sectors should be encouraged within the national sustainable development agenda, including clean energy issues. Indonesian youth engagement, particularly through the use of social media, pushes for the creation of next generation leaders who will transition the world to one where the principles of sustainable development are at the heart decision making. In light of this, Bali Clean Energy Forum brought together voices from the youth, especially strategic communities in national level and Bali.

The output of the Youth Forum was a draft of roadmap on Clean Energy that will contribute to the national movement, regarding youth aspirations in behavioral change, community engagement, and policy change, with key messages and strategic activities. Here are some Key Questions addressed in the draft.

1.  How can youth creativity be channeled towards initiatives on behavioral change, community engagement, and (if possible) policy change?

2. What are the key messages to support policy change and public behavior?

3.  What are the most strategic activities that can be done locally and nationwide?

4. Indonesia is one of the most active users of social media, what is the most optimum way to tap in to this network? 

So, we were divided into three major groups: Energy Campaign, Green Education, and Advocacy. Prior to group discussion, we were given so much material and inspiration from keynote speaker which were essential to create a roadmap in group discussion. I was in Energy Campaign group. We discussed about what national and local project we could do to support government promoting renewable energy to people in Indonesia. It?s kind of hard work (but not impossible) and I can say it as a big challenge for youth from Bali as the island was chosen as pilot project for clean energy.

After two days of hardwork facilitated by experienced facilitator, we can submit the roadmap. We agreed to create a national campaign for 5 years started from this year. Our target is but not limited to youth aged 17 – 30. We planned to engage 10 million (10%) of young people in Indonesia to sign a pledge with regard to energy efficiency and renewable energy. We are going to do road show to schools and campuses to share our concern. We plan to do capacity building to provide less developed village with electricity from renewable energy. We have so much more plans on the roadmap. And it has to be implemented in nationwide start from March 2016. Another important thing is along with 50 youth from 32 youth communities from 25 cities in Indonesia, we established a network called ?Forum Komunikasi Bijak Energy? and we do have our own website. We are going to post all of our projects, info graphics and other data on the website which is accessible for everyone.   

At the end of the forum, all of group projects (campaign, education, and advocacy) were presented in front of Mr. Sudirman Said, Indonesia Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. He was impressed by our projects and fully supports us. The staff from MEMR will always monitor our project progress. The forum was exhausting but fun. I learned a lot, had fun, found new like-minded friends, got to know stakeholders in MEMR.

March is around the corner by the way. Now we are ready to start our first project which is campaigning about energy efficiency and renewable energy to high school students in capital city of Bali.