Environmental Management Assessment Scheme (EMAS): Addressing the challenges of environmental, social, and economic performance assessment for industry in Indonesia and its opportunities to become a novel standard in ASEAN and Australia

Amidst the escalating global climate crisis, the coal mining sector in the Asia-Pacific region faces critical scrutiny. As the world strives for rapid decarbonization, the industry must demonstrate not only environmental compliance but also a tangible contribution to community resilience and economic sustainability. Although national compliance instruments like PROPER in Indonesia exist, they often fail to address the holistic challenges of a just energy transition, lacking a cohesive framework that integrates community empowerment with fundamental business strategy. The primary objective of this study is to propose and validate the Environmental Management Assessment Scheme (EMAS), an innovative framework comprising 10 criteria designed to comprehensively evaluate corporate sustainability performance beyond basic compliance. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, this research employs EMAS to assess the Community Empowerment Programs (CEP) of three major coal mining corporations from 2020–2025: PT Bukit Asam Tbk (Indonesia), Sarawak Energy Berhad (Malaysia), and BHP Group Limited (Australia). The assessment utilizes key indicators such as Environmental Impact, Social Return on Investment (SROI), and Creating Shared Value (CSV). The findings reveal distinct maturity levels: Indonesian programs excel in local economic engagement but struggle with biodiversity integration; Malaysian initiatives emphasize human capital but lack direct environmental mitigation linkage; while Australian programs demonstrate superior governance and indigenous involvement. This study concludes that EMAS offers a robust, adaptable standard for ASEAN and Australia, essential for guiding industries from administrative compliance toward transformative sustainable development in the era of climate change