A Reflection on November 10th: Redefining Heroism in the Age of Carbon
Every November 10th, we recall the Battle of Surabaya in 1945 as a defining moment in our struggle for Indonesia’s independence. On that day, ordinary citizens and young fighters defended their freedom against the return of colonial forces. It was a moment of courage and conviction, where belief and patriotism overcame fear and weakness.
Heroes Day should not only be a ceremonial tradition; it should become a reminder that defending our sovereignty is not limited to actions in the battlefield, but also in the evolving time and space.
Today, the security challenges we face are more complex and multidimensional in nature. Military dangers as those in Gaza and Ukraine still exist. In addition, we face non-traditional threats that cannot be seen or fired upon in the form of climate change, resource insecurity, and environmental degradation. Even the military itself contribute to this new threat dimension, releasing significant carbon in the air through its activity. This reminds us that true defense today must also include protecting the environment. For Indonesia, however, the spirit endures. The TNI will always uphold the value of November 10th and prove that patriotism can evolve with the times.
Unseen frontline
The idea of carbon footprint might seem paradoxical in the military context. Defense sectors see that conducting day-to-day operations of warships, fighter jets, and military bases is necessary for sovereignty. Meanwhile, TNI also faces challenges in terms of the amount of fuel consumed and their contribution to carbon footprint.
In this context, we can see that the military faces an unseen frontline in the form of environmental impact. It is real, consequential, but rarely discussed. As climate risks intensify, the paradox becomes clearer: can we defend our nation with a defense system that indirectly harms the environment on which our people depend?
Laying the Foundations of Blue Defense
The TNI has quietly begun adapting to this new frontier of defense, one that recognizes sustainability as strength. President Prabowo has highlighted the commitment to achieve energy resilience. For him, it is one of the cornerstones of national strength. Energy security does not merely mean independence from imports; it must also mean independence from unsustainable habits. The TNI is not alien to this policy. Several ongoing initiatives demonstrate that military readiness and environmental responsibility can go hand-in-hand.
The Navy, for example, has long used biofuel for some of its ships. It started in 2018 when the TNI AL implemented government policy to use biofuel for its ships with the use of B20, a mixture of 20% of biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel fuel. From there on, the TNI AL seeks to use engines compatible with biofuel for its new ships, especially those built by national defense industries. TNI AL currently consumes B35 biofuel only to further reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
In another area, Indonesia’s PT Pindad has developed an EV version of Maung, “Pandu”, which was unveiled at the 2025 Indo Defence Expo. The commitment in producing low-carbon tactical vehicles reflects an important shift towards energy efficiency as an element of combat readiness.
These two initiatives, though modest, reveal a silent transformation of Indonesian military and assert that environmental adaptation is becoming part of national resilience. TNI is moving towards the Blue Defense vision, a defense paradigm that integrates sustainability commitment into national resilience. A guardian for clearer skies.
Why Climate Matters for TNI
When considering “why”, the first thing that comes to mind is the shift of TNI’s operational focus from combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). Globally, climate change is considered a security multiplier, meaning that this issue amplifies instability, accelerates humanitarian crise, and exhausts state capacity.
Rising sea levels have become one of the main security problems in the region, as small Pacific islands risk losing their territories. Extreme weather disrupts food supply chain and state development. Competition over resources, from water to fisheries, would reshape geopolitical map. For an archipelago country like Indonesia, the challenges are even more pronounced as the pressures directly affect readiness and sovereignty.
At last year’s UN Climate Conference (COP 29), the link between defense sector and climate emerged as a new area of discussion during a side-event when Slovenian and Norwegian militaries shared their decarbonization experiences. The NATO 2030 agenda also identifies climate change as a strategic threat to security, leading them to measure and reduce military carbon emission, as stated on Proposal 7. This effort is a part of global consciousness, considering the military is one of the main carbon producers, contributing around 5.5% of global emissions.
What next?
Indonesia is not new to this conversation; it is already part of it. By innovating in biofuel, electrification, and local shipbuilding, Indonesia is demonstrating that climate-related actions will not compromise the defense posture. The ongoing progress provides a strong foundation for TNI’s broader and systematic approach to achieve a Blue Defense vision. What can be done next includes developing energy-resilient bases that use renewable energies, implementing environmentally friendly procurement of vehicles and infrastructure, and the use of technology in its training system. Technologies such as simulators or virtual-reality systems provide an alternative to live training and exercises that can conserve the use of fuel significantly without compromising the desired outcomes.
Furthermore, defense must also be the forefront actor in energy resilience effort. Energy resilience is far more than simply saving fuels. It is about sustaining sovereignty. Modernization and globalization have made the defense system dependent on a stable energy supply. A military that can operate independently from volatile global energy chains is strategically secure. That is what energy resilience meant for the TNI. To achieve this, Indonesia needs more research on technologies that support defense energy transition, from renewable fuels to biofuel-friendly engines, and from a simple EV vehicle to advanced storage systems that ensure operational continuity. These innovations will not only strengthen TNI’s energy independence, but also demonstrate that defense modernization and environmental stewardship can move in harmony.
As the world marks nine years since the Paris Agreement entered into force, this Heroes Day reminds us that patriotism is not confined to the past. This era demands a military that is capable of protecting both sovereignty and sustainability. By advancing Blue Defense vision through innovation and environmental stewardship, the TNI carries the same spirit that once fueled arek-arek Suroboyo (the youth of Surabaya) in the 1945 Battle of Surabaya. The qualities needed by true heroes today are not only the courage to fight, but also the wisdom to preserve the skies, seas, and future generations of this republic.