National Essay Competition

UK-MENTARI is excited to announce the National Essay Competition, designed to engage undergraduate students aged 18 and above in contributing to Indonesia’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner.

Background

In line with global climate change initiatives, Indonesia has set an ambitious target for net-zero emissions, aligned with the Long-Term Strategy for Low Carbon and Climate Resilience (LTS-LCCR) 2050 and its Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (ENDC) under the Paris Agreement. To reach this goal, the country is prioritizing:

• A comprehensive energy transition focused on increasing the share of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.
• Achieving carbon neutrality in the forestry sector by 2030 through forest conservation, reforestation, and peatland restoration.
• Decarbonizing the transportation and industrial sectors by boosting electric vehicle (EV) adoption and implementing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies.

Net Zero Emission Calculator

To support Indonesia’s NZE target, UK-MENTARI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), has developed a tool called the Net-Zero Emissions (NZE) Calculator. This tool facilitates planning in the demand and supply sector to achieve carbon neutrality.

Participants can access the Calculator here : https://nzecalculator.mentari.info/

Competition Details

This competition is open to:

Indonesian university students aged 18 and above based in Indonesia, enrolled in an undergraduate program.

Sub-themes

• Low-Carbon Energy Technology
• Low-Carbon Energy Policy
• Inclusive Low-Carbon Energy Implementation

Prizes

• Three of the best writers will present their works to representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the British Embassy Jakarta, development partners, and Mentari program implementers in Jakarta.
• All participants will receive a certificate from the UK-Mentari program.

Competition Guidelines

• Each essay must be written by one author aged 18 and above.
• No discriminatory or inappropriate language is allowed.
• While we acknowledge that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a valuable tool, we encourage participants to submit their original works. The committee will evaluate originality using recommended tools, making it a key criterion for selecting the best essays.
• Submissions are in Bahasa Indonesia.
• Participants can submit multiple essays.
• The deadline for paper submissions is 9 of June 2025.
• No registration fee is required.

Essay Format

• Maximum of 2,000 words
• PDF format
• Font: Arial, 11 pt
• Single spacing

Include:

• Your full name
• Your department and University
• Your email address

Send essay to bit.ly/MENTARIESSAY2025

Information Session

We provide an information session to be held on May 28, 2025 01:00 PM Bangkok

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/93063408454?pwd=WO2ySudVBIx2iVTYPGLkbD2DTeIlOi.1

Meeting ID: 930 6340 8454

Passcode: 973112

Evaluation Criteria

1. 1. Innovative, Original, and Creative: Showcase unique yet feasible discussions and solutions to tackle challenges related to Net Zero Emissions (NZE).
   2. Valid Literature: Provide supporting data from valid sources. Data and evidence follow the ideas and arguments presented in the essay.
   3. Local Relevance: Relate essay content to local environmental issues or initiatives, demonstrating how it can benefit your community.
   4. Practicality and Impact: Ensure ideas are actionable and provide clear steps for implementation, highlighting their potential impact on Indonesia’s future.
   5. Literary style: logical, completeness, clarity (easy to follow), grammar and spelling

Verification and Winner Announcement

• Finalists will be announced on the Mentari.info website on June 2025.
• Mentari will contact the finalists based on their provided data.
• Finalists will be invited and supported to present their work at MENTARI DAY event in Jakarta, which is planned to be held around early of July 2025.
• Participation in this competition is free of charge; there are no registration or administrative fees. Should anyone ask you for any fees in relation to this competition, please get in touch with us at MentariEssayCompetition2025@gmail.com
• The winner’s decision is final and cannot be disputed.
• Mentari reserves the right to disqualify participants/ winners who do not meet the applicable terms and conditions.

For more information regarding this program, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below or contact MentariEssayCompetition2025@gmail.com.

Throughout this competition, Mentari is committed to your rights, safety, and well-being in all your interactions with our project. Should you have any concerns, please report this to our safeguarding team at haifa.ungapen@thepalladiumgroup.com  or through our Integrity platform on EthicsPoint – The Palladium Group.

FAQ Mentari Paper Competition

1. Who can participate in this competition?
   Undergraduate students based in Indonesia, 18 years old and above, this competition is open for individual submission, not as groups.
2. Is this competition free of charge?
   Yes, participation in the National Essay  Competition is free of charge. Should anyone ask you for any fees in relation to this competition, please get in touch with us at MentariEssayCompetition2025@gmail.com.
3. What are the judging criteria?
   The judging criteria typically include originality, relevance to the competition theme, clarity of presentation, depth of research, and overall quality of the paper.
4. Is there any information session available for this competition and about the NZE Calculator?
   Yes, there is an information session available to be held on 28th of May 2025. The committee also provides a video tutorial on how to use the NZE Calculator, participants can access the video at mentari.info as well as Mentari YouTube channel. Please email the committee at MentariEssayCompetition2025@gmail.com for any questions.
5. When will the competition results be announced?
   The announcement will be made in June. The results will be announced on the official Mentari website, and the committee will contact the finalist.
6. Who is the judging panel for this competition?
   The judging panel consists of experts in the relevant field, including academicians and representatives of the government (Kementerian ESDM), the British Embassy Jakarta, and Mentari project implementers.
7. If I do not win, will I still receive a certificate as a participant?
   Yes, all participants will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation in the competition, regardless of whether they win or not.
8. What is the NZE Calculator?
   The NZE Calculator is a tool designed to help users simulate the calculation and analysis of carbon emissions and measure progress toward Net Zero Emissions (NZE). This calculator is used in the context of research, environmental policy, or projects related to sustainability and climate change mitigation. The main functions of the NZE Calculator include:
   1. Calculating Carbon Emissions: Calculating the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by specific activities, such as energy use or transportation.
   2. Analyzing Action Plans: Helping users plan steps to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero emission targets.
9. Where can I access the NZE Calculator?
   The NZE Calculator can be accessed through the official Mentari website or the link nzecalculator.mentari.info.
10. How can I use the NZE calculator? 
    For a concise overview, a short video explaining the use of the NZE Calculator is available on mentari.info website. To gain a deeper understanding of the tools and how to analyze the data, please refer to the User Guide located under the “Mini-Paper” section of the NZE Calculator page. For the best experience, we recommend accessing the NZE Calculator on a desktop version.