This paper critically examines the concept of “decoupling” as the popular idea that economic growth can be separated from environmental damage and carbon emissions. While this “green growth” model has seen some progress in developed nations like Denmark and Sweden, the study questions its feasibility and fairness when applied to emerging economies in the Global South, such as Indonesia. The author argues that simply telling these nations to grow sustainably ignores deep-seated structural barriers, policy inconsistencies, and historical disadvantages they face.

The research suggests that the current model of decoupling is a form of “ecological idealism” that overlooks the geopolitical and economic realities of post-colonial development. Using Indonesia’s challenges as a case study, including its reliance on fossil fuels and the failure of some green policies—the paper argues that true sustainability requires a radical rethinking of prosperity itself, moving beyond GDP-focused growth. Instead of just a technical fix, decoupling must become a political project rooted in socio-economic fairness, planetary boundaries, and justice for the Global South.