The Urgency of a Green Constitution Policy in the Development of the Indonesian Capital City as a Green Economy-Based City

The development of Indonesia’s new capital city (IKN) is envisioned as a green economy-based “smart forest city. This article examines the urgency of integrating green constitutionalism into the regulatory framework governing IKN development. Employing a normative juridical method with statutory and comparative approaches, this study analyzes constitutional environmental provisions in Indonesia alongside those of Germany, Ecuador, and South Africa. The findings reveal that, although the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia guarantees the right to a good and healthy environment (Article 28H (1) and promotes environmentally sustainable development (Article 33 (4), their implementation remains largely formalistic and lacks effective enforcement mechanisms. Consequently, the IKN project risks generating significant environmental degradation, including deforestation, if these constitutional norms are not operationalized. Comparative analysis demonstrates that Germany embeds state responsibility for environmental protection and intergenerational justice, Ecuador recognizes the rights of nature (Pachamama), and South Africa constitutionally guarantees environmental rights within a justiciable framework. This study argues that incorporating these principles into the IKN legal framework would enhance environmental protection through stronger regulatory instruments, increased public participation, and greater institutional accountability. It proposes a “green constitutional policy” model that bridges the gap between constitutional norms and practical implementation. The study contributes to the growing discourse on environmental constitutionalism by offering actionable legal policy recommendations for sustainable capital city development in Indonesia and comparable jurisdictions

Capital (architecture) · Constitution · Constitutionalism · Enforcement · Environmental law · Environmentalism · Normative · Premise · Rights of Nature · Statutory law · Sustainable development · Environmental law and policy · Indonesian Legal and Regulatory Studies · Legal and Policy Analysis in Indonesia