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Understanding Net Zero Through the Case of Nusantara
Rating: 4.6 out of 5(22 ratings)
125 students

Understanding Net Zero Through the Case of Nusantara

Nusantara Net Zero Development
Created byDevelopment Geography Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jon Lovett, Annisa Joviani Astari, Hafidz Wibisono, Pendidikan Geografi UPI, Vidya Azzizi
Last updated 1/2026
English

What you'll learn

  • Develop a good understanding on the basic theoretical principles of net zero development
  • Investigate the interdisciplinary approaches to achieving net zero development
  • Develop potential socio-technical interventions to achieve net zero development
  • Explore the global and national necessities and institutional arrangements underlying net zero development
  • Interpret an empirical case of net zero development in “Ibukota Nusantara”
  • Debate the application of net zero vision of “Ibukota Nusantara”

Course content

2 sections • 14 lectures • 1h 30m total length

  • Introduction5:36

    Welcome to the first week of the Net Zero MOOC! In this introductory video, we guide you through a learning journey that begins with the fundamental concept of Net Zero before exploring its complex theory and practical applications. Hosted by Jon, Annisa, Hafidz, and Vidya, they provide an overview of the topics covered by this whole course of Net Zero, it includes the science, the history of "global warming" discovery, and the critical international frameworks established by the 1992 UNFCCC and the 2015 Paris Agreement. Together, they set the stage for understanding why so many organizations and nations are now collaborating to achieve this urgent goal.

  • Planetary biogeochemical cycles2:54

    This session begins with the transformative power of the "Earthrise" photograph, which revealed Earth as a unique, living biosphere unlike any other planet. We introduce the "Gaia Hypothesis" by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis, which posits that our planet acts as a self-regulating system where biological processes actively maintain life-sustaining conditions. You will learn how Earth’s specific orbital position allows for liquid water, enabling photosynthesis to regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen levels.

    The discussion highlights how vegetation creates organic soil and regulates the global water cycle through evapotranspiration, a process vital for maintaining regional rainfall patterns. Crucially, the video examines how human interference disrupts these delicate cycles. Speakers analyze the consequences of deforestation and land-use changes on carbon uptake and hydrology. They also address how the extensive use of artificial fertilizers leads to eutrophication in lakes and dead zones in coastal seas, setting the stage for a deeper look at the carbon cycle.

  • The carbon cycle6:40

    In this step, we explore the Carbon Cycle, the most significant biogeochemical process on Earth, given that the biosphere is fundamentally carbon-based. The video explains how plants fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into complex molecules through photosynthesis, creating the green vegetation visible from space. While natural respiration recycles much of this carbon, vast amounts were historically preserved in anaerobic environments, eventually transforming into coal during the Carboniferous and Permian periods, and oil during the Mesozoic era.

    The discussion highlights a dangerous imbalance: in just a few centuries since the Industrial Revolution, humans have burned massive quantities of coal, oil, and natural gas, releasing carbon dioxide that took millions of years to accumulate. The session covers the distinct geological origins of these fuels and analyzes the environmental impact of returning this ancient carbon to the atmosphere.

  • Science of global warming4:21

    In this step, we delve into the scientific principles that underpin the entire Net Zero concept. Understanding the mechanics of "global warming" is essential to grasping why specific policies and technologies are being urgently promoted today. The video explains the "greenhouse effect," a process where gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat. While solar energy heats the Earth, greenhouse gases prevent the resulting longer-wavelength thermal radiation from escaping back into space, maintaining a temperature that sustains life. The session details the key players in this process: the greenhouse gases. While some, like water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, occur naturally, human activity has drastically increased their concentrations. The speakers highlight the primary sources of this excess—burning fossil fuels, intensive agriculture, and deforestation—and introduce synthetic industrial gases like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that act as potent warming agents.

    Finally, we trace the historical journey of climate science, from the 19th-century discoveries of Joseph Fourier and John Tyndall to Svante Arrhenius’s 1896 prediction that rising CO2 would warm the planet. The discussion leads to the modern scientific consensus, formed in the 1980s, which resulted in the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC remains the authoritative body for assessing the complex, variable factors of the Earth's climate system.

  • Benefits of net zero6:21

    In this session, the discussion moves beyond the basic definition of Net Zero to explore its tangible benefits across various sectors. The transition to a Net Zero world offers advantages that extend far beyond climate mitigation. The conversation opens with the critical issue of Energy Security. Shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy empowers nations to generate their own power, reducing reliance on volatile imports and shielding economies from the geopolitical conflicts and price shocks often associated with oil and gas.

    The focus then shifts to Social Well-being and Health in which burning fewer fossil fuels directly improves air quality, leading to reduced rates of asthma and heart disease. The explanation further describes the necessary investments in green infrastructure, water filtration, and waste management not only create a cleaner environment but also generate new job opportunities, aligning closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The push for ecology also drives technological advancements, from more efficient solar panels and hydrogen energy to carbon-conscious manufacturing and building designs. Connecting these technological strides with "nature-based solutions," is also essential as a powerful, natural engine for reducing greenhouse gases through the carbon cycle.

  • Net zero controversies6:01

    This session tackles the challenging but necessary topic of the opposition and skepticism surrounding the Net Zero movement. Hosted by Hafiz, the panel explores why, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus, resistance to climate action persists in the public and political spheres. There are political pressure groups that actively oppose international agreements like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These groups advocate for the continued use of fossil fuels, often disregarding the scientific evidence linking their emissions to global warming and the resulting rise in extreme weather events.

    The conversation then shifts to the phenomenon of "climate denial." This group referred as the rejection or dismissal of the consensus that human activity is the primary driver of climate change. The skepticism grows from the counterarguments of climate change that claims the Earth’s current warming is simply part of a natural historical cycle—similar to the dawn of the Ice Age, rather than a unique crisis triggered by modern human interference.

    Finally, we discuss the practical hurdles of implementation. The primary argument is that achieving Net Zero is prohibitively expensive, citing the economic losses associated with abandoning fossil fuels and the high costs of building new renewable infrastructure. The proposed technical solutions, such as carbon capture and storage, also require massive and uncertain investments. The session concludes by acknowledging the complex debate regarding funding, particularly the disparity in affordability between developing and developed nations.

  • International agreements: The UNFCCC3:57

    This session takes you back to the pivotal 1992 "Earth Summit" in Rio de Janeiro, where 179 nations convened to establish a global common vision for the planet. We explore the formation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the foundational treaty that officially recognized the danger of rising greenhouse gas concentrations and set the ultimate objective of stabilizing them to prevent climate chaos.

    The discussion delves into the practical complexities of these international agreements, specifically the "Rio Declaration" and "Agenda 21." The panel tackles the difficult question of enforcement: is it possible to ensure compliance when nations are sovereign? They examine the nature of international law and the challenge of turning a "common vision" into binding action. This critical look at geopolitical cooperation explains why concepts like the "polluter pays" principle are essential yet difficult to implement globally.

  • Paris Agreement and NDC4:56

Requirements

  • This course is for everyone! no specific background or prior knowledge needed

Description

This is a two-week course consisting of theoretical explanations on Net Zero development and its practical example in developing Indonesia's New Capital called Nusantara. In the first half of the course, learners will first explore the background necessity of net zero development and then go to investigate multidimensional scopes of the concept of net zero. Accordingly, learners will acquire the knowledge and understanding of net zero concept (background, basic principles, and approaches) that forms the basis by which to understand the more contextual case discussed in the second half of the course. Learners also decision-making and critical thinking skills that will be beneficial for them to critically evaluate the development of “Ibukota Nusantara” at the end of the second half.

The second half of the course focuses on the contextual application of net zero development concept. Learners will be given an overview on how the concept of net zero is applied in the development of “Ibukota Nusantara”. In this half, learners will study about the global and national institutional arrangements underlying the application of net zero development, including the Paris Agreement and the nationally determined contribution with specific focus on Indonesia. Several courses in this half involve the participation of Nusantara authority and the surrounding government to provide a detailed case description, including planning process, issues, and the current state of development. The second half courses provide an opportunity for learners to critically evaluate the development process of “Ibukota Nusantara” based on the theoretical understanding provided in the first half.


Who this course is for:

  • Students, Academicians, Proffesionals, or Anyone who are interested in the issue of carbon neutral development, both theoretical and practical

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