Balancing Utilitarianism with Access to Environmental Justice: An Indonesian Case Study

The global environmental crisis exacerbates Indonesia's ecological vulnerability, marked by deforestation, pollution, and agrarian conflicts, with marginalized groups—particularly Indigenous communities—bearing a disproportionate burden. This study aims to integrate the evolution of utilitarianism with environmental justice principles (distributive, recognition, procedural) within Indonesia's socio-cultural context. Using a theoretical framework analysis and case-based policy review , the research identifies the limitations of pure utilitarianism, which often neglects minority rights. A hybrid approach combining Amartya Sen's Capability Approach , John Rawls's Justice as Fairness , and sustainable utilitarianism demonstrates potential to balance collective benefits, individual capabilities, and ecosystem integrity. Analysis of resource access, agrarian conflicts, and law enforcement reveals structural inequities impeding environmental justice. The study concludes that this integrative conceptual framework offers a normative foundation for inclusive, transparent, and sustainable policy-making. Its novelty lies in synthesizing classical ethics and contemporary justice theories for a developing country context, a perspective rarely explored. The urgency calls for governance reforms ensuring that economic growth does not compromise rights and ecological sustainability. Practical implications include mainstreaming meaningful participation, strengthening cross-sectoral coordination, and enforcing environmental law through the polluter pays principle.