Ineffective Environmental Law Enforcement Against Corporations in Indonesia's Natural Resource Management
Abstract
Environmental law enforcement against corporations engaged in natural resource management remains a significant challenge in Indonesia, contributing to persistent environmental degradation despite the existence of comprehensive environmental regulations. Although Indonesia has established a legal framework governing environmental protection and corporate accountability, its implementation has often proven ineffective due to institutional, legal, and governance related constraints. This study aims to examine the factors contributing to the ineffectiveness of environmental law enforcement against corporations and to identify legal and institutional measures capable of strengthening corporate environmental accountability. The research employs a normative juridical method using statutory and conceptual approaches, supported by an analysis of selected cases involving corporate environmental violations. The findings reveal that ineffective law enforcement is primarily attributable to weak regulatory oversight, inconsistent implementation by law enforcement authorities, inadequate sanctions, and the persistent tension between economic development objectives and environmental protection. Furthermore, establishing corporate criminal and civil liability remains challenging due to complex corporate structures, evidentiary difficulties, and limitations in attributing responsibility to corporate decision-makers. These conditions undermine the deterrent effect of environmental legislation and weaken public confidence in environmental governance. Accordingly, strengthening environmental law enforcement requires comprehensive regulatory reform, enhanced institutional capacity, consistent and impartial enforcement, more effective judicial remedies, and stronger mechanisms for corporate accountability. Such measures are essential to ensuring legal certainty, promoting sustainable natural resource management, protecting environmental rights, and advancing the principles of sustainable development and good environmental governance in Indonesia.
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