The modern aviation industry is at a pivotal point, where technological progress and economic growth meet with urgent environmental responsibilities. This tension is especially clear in Indonesia, a vast archipelago where airspace serves as both a crucial link for national connectivity and a key pathway for international flights. With air travel demand expected to rise significantly in the coming decades, Indonesia faces a dual challenge: to leverage the aviation sector as a driver of economic progress while ensuring that such growth does not harm the environment.
This challenge reflects a broader global dilemma: balancing the desire for mobility with the realities of climate change. Currently, aviation contributes over 2. 2.5% of worldwide carbon emissions and is among the fastest- growing sources of greenhouse gases. For countries like Indonesia—both a contributor to and a victim of climate change—the environmental impact of aviation is no longer a minor issue; it is a central part of sustainable development policies.
To manage this delicate balance, science and international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, ICAO’ s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), and the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program offer vital technical frameworks. However, technical solutions alone are not enough. The moral obligation to act—especially when ecological damage threatens vulnerable communities and future generations—must be rooted in ethical and philosophical values that appeal to the conscience of a nation.
In this context, the Qur’an stand out as a lasting source of environmental ethics, providing deep guidance on humankind’ s duty as khalifah (stewards) of the Earth. Far from being limited to pre- modern or rural settings, Quranic principles of balance (mīzān), harmony, and responsibility go beyond time and place, offering a spiritual and moral compass highly relevant to modern challenges—including the ecological effects of air transport.
As Indonesia steps up its involvement with global environmental frameworks and aims for Net Zero emissions, integrating Quranic teachings into public policy discussions is both timely and essential. These teachings can strengthen national aviation strategies—not by replacing science, but by supporting it with values of trust, restraint, justice, and intergenerational fairness. This integration is not just an act of faith but a strategic move to connect policies with the deeper moral values of Indonesian society.
Divine Stewardship: The Foundation for Aviation Environmental Responsibility
The Quran repeatedly calls on humankind to act as stewards of the Earth:
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً
“And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority (khalifah).’” (QS Al-Baqarah: 30)
This verse reminds us that our role is not dominion, but stewardship. For aviation stakeholders—airlines, airports, and regulators—this means building and operating air transport systems in harmony with the environment. Applying the khalifah principle urges operators to adopt sustainable fuel, modern aircraft with lower emissions, and implement effective offsetting mechanisms.
Moderation and Balance in Emissions
وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ
“And the sky He raised, and imposed the balance. That you do not transgress within the balance.” (QS Ar-Rahman: 7–8)
This balance (mīzān) extends to the natural order, including carbon cycles and atmospheric integrity. Uncontrolled aviation growth—if not addressed with emissions control—can disrupt this divine balance. Indonesia’s pledge to implement CORSIA through its Directorate General of Civil Aviation is not only a technical or diplomatic step but a religiously consonant one.
Avoiding Corruption and Environmental Harm
ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ
“Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned.” (QS Ar-Rum: 41)
Pollution from aviation—be it CO₂ emissions, noise pollution, or airport encroachments—is a manifestation of such corruption. The Quran warns of this imbalance and urges believers to correct course. The Airport Carbon Accreditation Program, which assesses and certifies airport efforts to reduce carbon emissions, aligns with this call for ecological integrity.
Accountability and Transparency
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ
“So, whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (QS Az-Zalzalah: 7–8)
CORSIA requires airlines to monitor, report, and verify their emissions—a form of modern accountability. This mirrors the Quranic principle of precise responsibility. Indonesian aviation entities must comply transparently, embracing environmental audits not as regulatory burdens but spiritual obligations.
National Policy and the Paris Agreement
Indonesia formalized its global climate commitment by ratifying the Paris Agreement through Law No. 16/2016, pledging to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 29% through domestic efforts, and up to 41% with international cooperation by 2030. These targets are not aspirational slogans—they are legal and moral obligations that bind national sectors, including aviation, to real and measurable action.
Aviation, particularly the international segment, is a fast-growing source of emissions. The sector’s high dependency on fossil fuels and energy-intensive infrastructure—from jet engines to terminal operations—means that it cannot be ignored in any credible national climate strategy. Globally, emissions from aviation are projected to triple by 2050 without decisive intervention. For a nation like Indonesia, with over 600 airports and a critical reliance on air transport across its 17,000 islands, the challenge is not theoretical—it is immediate.
To meet its targets, Indonesia must accelerate the implementation of ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). This includes mandating rigorous carbon monitoring and offsetting practices for all international carriers operating within its jurisdiction. Yet beyond offsetting, the emphasis must shift toward genuine emissions reduction—starting with the integration of green aviation technologies:
- Electrified ground support equipment to reduce on-tarmac fuel usage.
- Solar-powered and energy-efficient terminals, especially in island and remote airports.
- National-scale investment and policy support for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) development and distribution, including incentives for SAF blending mandates.
While these are technical interventions, Indonesia must also address the moral and spiritual dimension of climate action—particularly given the unique role of religion in shaping public values and political legitimacy. The integration of Islamic ethical frameworks into environmental aviation strategy is not only appropriate—it is urgent and strategic.
Islamic environmental ethics, drawn from Qur’anic mandates and Prophetic traditions, offer a rich framework that complements and reinforces scientific and legal approaches. These values—tawazun (balance), amanah (trusteeship), islah (reform), and khalifah (stewardship)—can shape both institutional norms and individual behavior within the aviation ecosystem.
To operationalize this integration, the Indonesian government could pursue a multi-pronged strategy:
- Mandating Theologically-Informed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)
Current EIAs focus on biophysical, social, and economic aspects. Introducing a theological-ethical layer—especially for airport megaprojects and new air routes—would allow decision-makers to consider long-term moral accountability, intergenerational justice, and community ecological rights grounded in spiritual doctrine.
- Issuing Fatwa-Based Aviation Sustainability Guidelines
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has previously issued progressive environmental fatwas, including on forest protection and water conservation. A Fatwa Penerbangan Hijau—or Green Aviation Fatwa—could set voluntary but culturally authoritative guidelines for airlines and airport authorities. These may include operational recommendations on noise pollution, emission reduction, and ethical supply chain practices in aviation services.
- Creating Incentive Frameworks for Islamic-Aligned Carbon Accountability
Airlines and airports that engage in carbon offsetting, Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programs, or adopt SAF and eco-labeling, could receive Sharia-compliant incentives such as green sukuk financing or recognition from religious authorities. Such alignment would drive behavior change not merely from compliance, but from shared belief and moral commitment.
- Embedding Green Values into Pilgrim Air Transport (Hajj and Umrah)
Given the volume of Indonesia’s Hajj and Umrah aviation traffic, a tailored program for green pilgrimage flights—featuring SAF usage, offsetting of emissions, waste reduction, and theological awareness for passengers—could serve as a flagship demonstration of Islamic environmental aviation leadership.
Toward a Net Zero Future
Indonesia’s commitment to achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2060 is not merely an environmental aspiration—it is a national development trajectory that demands transformative change across all sectors, particularly aviation, one of the hardest to decarbonize.
In the context of this long-term goal, the aviation sector must undergo a comprehensive shift: from a compliance-centered orientation to one that embraces innovation, value-driven transformation, and moral leadership. The Quranic perspective—rooted in concepts such as maslahah (public benefit), hikmah (wisdom), and khalifah (stewardship)—offers a timeless yet highly relevant foundation to support this transition.
To actualize this, Indonesia must move beyond minimum international compliance toward a proactive Islamic environmental leadership model that sets new global standards for developing Muslim-majority countries. Several strategic initiatives could drive this shift:
- Investing in Low-Emission, Future-Proof Airport Infrastructure
A net-zero aviation future requires not just cleaner aircraft but also smarter and greener ground infrastructure. Indonesia’s government and private airport operators—especially Angkasa Pura I & II—must align investment priorities with energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and climate resilience. This means:
- Retrofitting terminals with solar panels, LED lighting, and smart ventilation systems.
- Electrifying ground vehicles, including baggage carts and catering trucks.
- Building carbon-neutral airport blueprints in new or expanding facilities—especially in secondary cities and tourist growth corridors like Labuan Bajo, Lombok, and Mandalika.
In Quranic terms, such actions align with the prohibition of israf (excessive waste) and the mandate to ensure ‘imaratul-ardh (the prosperity of the earth).
- Mobilizing Islamic Finance for Green Aviation Projects
Islamic finance instruments such as green sukuk, waqf-linked investments, and Sharia-compliant ESG portfolios offer powerful tools to fund the green transition of Indonesia’s aviation ecosystem. To date, green financing in Indonesia’s transport sector remains disproportionately focused on road and rail
. Aviation must now be included in national Shariah ESG investment roadmaps, especially given its carbon intensity and international visibility.
Strategic efforts could include:
- Establishing an Aviation Green Sukuk Framework to fund airport solar farms or SAF research.
- Creating green waqf funds for supporting environmental innovation in state-owned airlines and aviation academies.
- Partnering with Islamic banks to offer preferential financing for emission-reducing aircraft or airport retrofitting by private operators.
This Islamic finance–aviation nexus would reflect the Quranic principle of “balancing worldly advancement with moral accountability” and can serve as a model for other Muslim-majority nations navigating the same challenges.
- Embedding Quranic Environmental Ethics Across the Aviation Value Chain
Building sustainable aviation is not solely a technological or financial challenge—it is a cultural transformation. Behavioural change, value alignment, and environmental awareness must be fostered across all levels of the aviation sector: from airport authorities and pilots, to engineers, policy-makers, and even passengers.
To that end, Indonesia can develop sector-wide environmental ethics campaigns inspired by Quranic values, including:
- Mandatory green ethics modules in aviation vocational training (e.g., PPI Curug, Poltekbang and API Banyuwangi).
- Public awareness programs in airports highlighting Quranic messages about balance (mizan) and stewardship.
- Engagement with Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) located near airports to build local awareness about aviation’s climate responsibility.
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to integrate climate ethics into public service messaging at major Hajj and Umrah terminals.
Indonesia’s Islamic environmental vision for aviation can set a new benchmark in global climate leadership. In an era where environmental compliance is often reduced to carbon markets and technical metrics, Indonesia has the opportunity to offer an alternative model—a net-zero pathway grounded in justice, spirituality, and ethical foresight. Such a model does not reject science, but complements it with conscience.
By aligning national aviation decarbonization strategies with the Qur’an’s moral imperatives, Indonesia can elevate its commitments from mere obligation to visionary leadership, showing the world that in the pursuit of sustainability, faith and future can fly together.
Concluding Reflection
In Islam, preserving the environment is not an option—it is a command. The Quranic verses cited above challenge us to embed environmental justice into the very core of how we fly, build, and regulate. As Indonesia pursues its commitments under CORSIA, ACA, and the Paris Agreement, these divine mandates offer not just justification but inspiration.
Let us fly not only higher but wiser—toward skies that are not only safer but also greener.
