Irman Gusman Emphasizes that Green Economy and Democracy Must Become the New Direction for Regional Development

08 May 2026 oleh admin

dpd.go.id Jakarta, May 7, 2026 — Indonesian Senator from West Sumatra, Irman Gusman, emphasized that the concepts of green economy and green democracy must become the new direction for regional development in Indonesia amidst various global challenges such as the climate crisis, digital transformation, and the disruption caused by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The member of Committee I of the DPD RI conveyed this during the Road to Indonesia Regional Impact Awards (IRIA) 2026 agenda held in Jakarta on Thursday (May 7).

According to the former two-term Speaker of the DPD RI, the paradigm of regional development can no longer rely solely on the exploitation of natural resources. Instead, it must move toward development that is more sustainable, inclusive, and based on the quality of human resources.

“Regions cannot continue to depend on extractive economies based on natural resources. The world is now moving toward a green economy, innovation, and strengthening the quality of human resources,” he stated.

The Chairman of the Expert Council for SME Economics of PP Muhammadiyah explained that the green economy is not merely an environmental issue, but a development strategy capable of driving economic growth while simultaneously preserving natural resource sustainability and the quality of life for the community.

In his view, Indonesia has great potential to become a global green economic power through new and renewable energy, the maritime economy, biodiversity, and sustainability-based industries.

Furthermore, Irman expressed support for the ideas of the Speaker of the DPD RI, Sultan B. Najamudin, who has consistently pushed for the strengthening of the green energy transition and sustainable economic development in the regions. “A green economy is not just about protecting the environment, but also about opening new investment opportunities, creating green jobs, and strengthening the economic competitiveness of the regions,” he said.

In addition, Irman highlighted the importance of building green democracy, a democracy that is more egalitarian, participatory, and oriented toward sustainability.

According to him, Indonesian democracy still faces challenges from a feudal culture and development inequality between regions that need to be addressed. “The true principles of democracy are equality and social justice. Green democracy places sustainability, balance, and the collective interest as the orientation of development,” he remarked. Irman assessed that the global community is currently being united by shared realities such as climate change, food and energy threats, and environmental issues.

Therefore, regional development must be directed not only at chasing short-term economic growth but also toward long-term sustainability.

He also emphasized the importance of improving the quality of Indonesia's human resources so they can compete in the era of the green and digital economy.

“We must prepare a generation that is tech-literate, AI-literate, and possesses a sustainability perspective. Because economic sustainability is ultimately determined by the quality of human resources,” he added.

On that occasion, Irman emphasized that the DPD RI plays a vital role in bridging regional interests with the central government, especially in ensuring that the green development agenda can be implemented equitably across all regions of Indonesia. Through the collaboration between the DPD RI and MarkPlus in IRIA 2026, Irman hopes for the birth of a regional development ecosystem that prioritizes the 5P principles: Planet, People, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

“Moving forward, regional development is not enough if it only chases growth figures; it must also deliver social impact, environmental sustainability, and quality of life for the people,” he concluded.