Strengthening Environmental Planning: A Comparison of Government Regulation No. 22 of 2021 and No. 26 of 2025

Background: Building an Integrated Environmental Planning Framework

As part of efforts to strengthen environmental protection and management, the Government of Indonesia has issued two key regulations: Government Regulation (GR) No. 22 of 2021 on the Implementation of Environmental Protection and Management and GR No. 26 of 2025 on Environmental Protection and Management Planning. These two policies complement each other: GR 22/2021 focuses on technical implementation (such as EIA and environmental permits), while GR 26/2025 reinforces long-term strategic planning through the Environmental Protection and Management Plan (RPPLH).

With an approach based on environmental carrying capacity and load capacity, and enhanced coordination between central and regional governments, GR No. 26 of 2025 serves as a critical instrument to bridge the vision of sustainable environmental governance with national and regional development practices.

Key Differences Between GR No. 22 of 2021 and GR No. 26 of 2025

Category	GR No. 22 of 2021	GR No. 26 of 2025
Regulatory Focus	Implementation of environmental protection and management, including environmental permitting	Planning of environmental protection and management through RPPLH development
Objective	Provides legal basis for EIA, UKL-UPL, and environmental control mechanisms	Serves as a reference for environmentally sound national and regional development
Main Instruments	EIA, UKL-UPL, SPPL, quality standards, environmental monitoring	National, Provincial, and District/City-level RPPLH
Approach	Permit- and activity-based	Based on environmental carrying capacity and load capacity, and eco-regions
Role of Regional Government	Executes environmental approvals and monitors activities	Develops and establishes RPPLH as a reference for spatial planning and local development
Integration with Spatial Planning	Not explicitly required as reference for spatial plans	RPPLH must be integrated into Spatial Plans (RTRW) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (KLHS)
Institutional Coordination	Focused on permitting and supervision by MoEF and local governments	Promotes synergy among MoEF, sectoral ministries/agencies, and local governments in planning
Monitoring	Supervision of business/activities based on permits	Monitoring of RPPLH implementation and periodic evaluation every five years

What’s New and Strengthened in GR No. 26 of 2025?

• Planning as a Foundation

  This regulation elevates environmental planning from being merely administrative to becoming a decision-making tool for development at all levels of government.

  
  

• Carrying Capacity and Eco-Regions

  GR 26/2025 adopts an approach based on environmental carrying and load capacity, aligned with eco-regional conditions to ensure development remains within environmental limits.

  
  

• Integration with Spatial Plans and KLHS

  RPPLH is established as a key reference in preparing Spatial Plans (Rencana Tata Ruang Wilayah – RTRW) and conducting Strategic Environmental Assessments (Kajian Lingkungan Hidup Strategis – KLHS), ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded in land-use and sectoral planning.

  
  

• Evaluation and Reporting

  Every RPPLH must be reviewed every five years, with evaluation results used to update the plan and assess its effectiveness in environmental protection and management.

Why This Matters

• Consistency Between Permits and Planning

  These two regulations together ensure a clear legal connection between strategic environmental planning (RPPLH) and its technical execution (environmental permits).

  
  

• Strengthened Legal Certainty

  RPPLH becomes a legitimate instrument to screen development plans based on environmental capacity, reducing conflicts in land-use decisions.

  
  

• More Controlled Development

  RPPLH integration into spatial planning helps prevent environmentally damaging expansion and promotes more sustainable land use.

Conclusion

GR No. 26 of 2025 marks a significant step forward in strengthening Indonesia’s environmental policy framework. Complementing GR No. 22 of 2021, this regulation ensures that all national and local development activities are anchored in a strong, planned, and sustainable environmental foundation. Collaboration between the central government, regional authorities, and relevant sectors is key to ensuring that RPPLH functions not just as a document—but as a guiding instrument for Indonesia’s greener and more resilient future.