Beyond human interests: An ecocentric critique of Indonesia’s environmental legal framework

Abstract

Background: Anthropogenic climate change has intensified ecological degradation globally, including in Indonesia. While frameworks such as the Paris Agreement promote sustainability, their effectiveness depends on how national legal systems translate ecological commitments into practice. As a country situated within the Global South, Indonesia’s environmental legislation—covering environmental protection, forestry, mining, energy, and coastal management—continues to exhibit an anthropocentric orientation that subordinates ecological integrity to economic and developmental priorities. Previous studies have focused mainly on governance and enforcement, leaving the philosophical foundations of environmental law underexplored. This study addresses that gap by examining how anthropocentrism shapes Indonesia’s environmental legal framework and proposing an ecocentric alternative as a more coherent foundation for ecological justice. Methods: Using a qualitative doctrinal approach adapted from ecolinguistic methodology, the analysis operationalizes four dimensions—core textual formula, dominant linguistic pattern, analytical category, and structural orientation—to identify how statutory language frames the human–nature relationship. Findings: The findings show that Indonesia’s environmental laws embody a weak anthropocentric orientation, framing nature primarily as a state-controlled resource for human welfare. Economic logic linguistically shapes concepts like sustainability and ecosystem protection, reinforcing human-centered values. Conclusion: To overcome this, the study introduces an ecocentric paradigm grounded in the concept of the ecological community, which affirms the intrinsic value of all living and non-living entities and repositions humans as participants within the web of life rather than its rulers. Novelty/Originality of this article: By integrating ecocentric principles into Indonesia’s legal philosophy and institutional framework, environmental law may be reframed from a tool of resource management into a moral and juridical foundation for sustaining the community of life.