“THE Regenerative Pulse: Agile Ideas, Resilient Systems, Disruptive Change”, championed by the Lestari Summit and Awards 2026, serves as a reminder to all stakeholders that Indonesia must move further than mere awareness of preservation towards the courage to restore – transitioning from doing no harm to actively making efforts to repair the systems that sustain life.
This concept became the common thread uniting government, the business sector, academia, communities, civil society and the media to collaboratively drive quality and sustainable development in Indonesia.
This shift in perspective has become increasingly relevant as Indonesia faces progressively complex environmental and social challenges. The climate crisis is no longer a distant global issue removed from daily life.
Deputy National Development Planning (PPN) Minister and National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) deputy head Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard stated that the approach to development needs to shift from sustainable development to regenerative development.
“Indonesia must move away from sustainable development that tends to focus merely on minimising damage or maintaining existing conditions. Development must be capable of improving the systems that support human life.
“It must leave behind healthier forests, more liveable cities, more innovative industries, more adaptive institutions and better-prepared communities,” he said during the Lestari Summit 2026, held at the Raffles Hotel Jakarta on 22 July 2026.
This paradigm shift must ensure that every generation is capable of handing down a stronger foundation for development than the one they received.
To achieve this, development planning must also become increasingly evidence-based. Febrian emphasised an evidence-based planning approach.
Rigorous data accuracy is essential so that policies do not merely address today’s issues but are capable of anticipating future needs.
No one can do it alone
The transformation towards regenerative development cannot be accomplished by a single party alone. Collaboration is key.
“The government cannot do it alone, the business sector cannot do it alone, academia cannot do it alone and communities cannot do it alone. And the media, least of all, can do it alone either,” said KG Media Sustainability vice president Wisnu Nugroho.
For KG Media, the role of the media also needs to evolve. It is not enough for sustainability merely to be reported on. The media can act as a facilitator, bringing together ideas, best practices and various initiatives that offer solutions.
“A sustainable future is not enough to merely be reported in the news. It needs to be driven, nurtured and built together,” said Wisnu.
This spirit of collaboration and regeneration vibrated through every session throughout the Lestari Summit 2026, establishing it as a safe and conducive space for exchanging ideas and exploring collaborative opportunities.
During the session “Sustainability in a Changing World: How Can Indonesia Continue to Grow Today and Tomorrow? Nature Holds The Answer”, United Nations Development Programme resident representative in Indonesia Sara Ferrer Olivella, highlighted Indonesia’s immense opportunity to create added value from its natural wealth through innovation, efficiency and good governance.
In the session “Sustainability, Innovation and the Future We Shape”, National Economic Council vice chair Mari Elka Pangestu emphasised that sustainability and good governance must be fully recognised as integral parts of business strategy, as they can enhance efficiency, broaden access to financing and strengthen competitiveness in the global market.
Sustainability issues were also discussed from a corporate governance perspective. The session “Indonesia Sustainability Reporting Readiness: Compliance Trend, Next POJK, and Corporate Challenges” addressed the importance of credible sustainability reporting as part of corporate decision-making.
Regulatory developments and corporate readiness were also brought into focus. The idea of the necessity of integrating sustainability into development strategies was further enriched by the insights of PT ASI Pudjiastuti Marine Product president director Susi Pudjiastuti, in the session “From Pangandaran to Sustainable Impact: Nature-Based Enterprise and Community Empowerment”.
Drawing on her experience building a business in Pangandaran Regency, West Java, Susi demonstrated how these principles can be practically implemented at the local level.
Sessions presenting practical grassroots experiences were also featured, such as the story shared by the Rock In Celebes founder Hardinansyah Putra Siji, in the session “Mindful Consumption: Finding New Value Beyond Single-Use Living”.
He spoke of feeling unsettled enjoying the success of a festival amidst thousands of pieces of leftover waste, which led him to design strategies to reduce waste right from the start of event organisation.
Additionally, PT TBS Energi Utama Tbk shared their journey in the session “Advancing Business Transition: From Coal to Low-Carbon Growth”, detailing the company’s transition from coal towards low-carbon business operations.
The summit concluded with the session “The Next Chapter After 2030: Indonesia’s Role in a Regenerative World”, presented by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia founder and chairman Dino Patti Djalal, who discussed global dynamics and Indonesia’s opportunities to shape the post-2030 regenerative development agenda.
First impact report
At this year’s Lestari Summit, KG Media also launched its inaugural Impact Report as a step towards documenting and measuring the sustainability impact of the company’s operations and various initiatives.
Ultimately, the success of regenerative development cannot be measured solely by the volume of policies, reports or claims of commitment but rather by an improved quality of life, opportunities successfully created, economic resilience preserved and trust fostered both domestically and internationally.
From Indonesia, this regenerative pulse is expected to translate into ongoing collaboration, innovation and concrete action that reinforces Indonesia’s resilience while contributing to a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable Asean future.
The Lestari Summit 2026 was organised with the support of PT Astra International Tbk (Astra), PT PLN (Persero), Amazon Web Services (AWS) in partnership with PT Innovation Cloud Services (ICS), PT WIKA Tirta Jaya Jatiluhur, the Jakarta Environmental Agency (DLH DKI Jakarta) and PT Toba Bara Sejahtra (TBS).
