Conflict of Authority between Central and Regional Government in Natural Resource Management: A Study of State Administrative Court Decisions

Abstract

This study discusses the Legal Analysis of Environmental Dispute Resolution through the Class Action Mechanism in Indonesia. Class action lawsuits offer an efficient litigation solution for communities affected by environmental damage or pollution, where one or more representatives act on behalf of a large group. This study uses a normative legal method by analyzing Supreme Court Regulation Number 1 of 2002 concerning Class Action Procedures and Law Number 32 of 2009 concerning Environmental Protection and Management, plus a limited empirical study of several environmental class action cases in Indonesia. The results of the analysis show that the legal basis has accommodated collective efforts to hold polluters accountable. However, practice in the field faces major challenges: minimal socialization, high litigation costs, the complexity of scientific evidence, and the varying knowledge of law enforcement officers about the concept of class action. Nevertheless, this mechanism has proven to be able to reduce duplication of cases, strengthen the bargaining position of the community, and encourage broader environmental recovery. Research recommendations include strengthening special regulations for environmental class actions, increasing the capacity of judges and advocates, providing financial assistance for pollution victims, and monitoring mechanisms for the execution of decisions. With these steps, class actions have the potential to become an effective instrument for enforcing ecological justice and protecting the right to a healthy environment in Indonesia.