Ecobiz.asia — Technological innovation from artificial intelligence to blockchain-based carbon infrastructure will drive the next phase of global carbon-market growth, Edena Group CEO Wook Lee said at the opening of the Carbon Digital Conference (CDC) Indonesia 2025 in Bandung on Monday (Dec. 8, 2025).
Speaking at the event hosted by the Indonesia Carbon Trading Association (IDCTA), Lee said the future of climate action depends on innovation that delivers measurable results, not policy alone. “Policies set the direction, but action creates change,” he said.
Lee highlighted South Korea’s rapid progress in carbon-market democratization. His company Hooxi Partners pioneered the first future carbon credits with Hyundai Securities and pushed for individual carbon-credit rights.
“Last week, the Korean government extended carbon-credit rights to EV owners, worth up to USD 100 per year. Innovation moves faster than skepticism,” he said.
He noted that AI-driven verification tools are enabling governments to treat carbon credits as individual property rights, lowering transaction barriers and boosting transparency.
Edena, which operates hubs in 70 countries including Indonesia for the ASEAN market, is now preparing what Lee described as “one of the largest investments in the industry’s history” backed by a prominent Indonesian firm.
“Indonesia possesses what the world needs, vast rainforest carbon sinks, blue-carbon ecosystems, and a government committed to real action,” he said. “But potential requires infrastructure. That is why Edena is here.”
Lee said the CDC has become a convergence point “where policy meets capital, where projects meet investors, where ambitions meet execution,” adding that Indonesia is emerging as a global leader as carbon markets shift from emerging to mainstream. “We are witnessing a historical shift. The carbon market is here, and Indonesia is demonstrating global leadership,” he said.
The CDC, now in its third year, opened with strong momentum, according to IDCTA Chair Riza Suarga, who reported 400 registered participants — far above the initial target of 270.
Held at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), the conference focuses on carbon capture and storage (CCS), which Suarga described as a “negative-emission solution” amid growing pressure on nature-based approaches.
The two-day event covers regulatory updates, Indonesia’s new Presidential Regulation 110/2025 on the carbon economy, and implementation of the mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with global standards. It includes partnership signings, a Carbon Bazaar, business-matching sessions, and a climate-tech hackathon featuring 10 startup finalists.
Suarga said the CDC aims to showcase real outputs reflecting Indonesia’s ambition to build a high-integrity, investment-ready carbon economy that supports both its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the government’s target of achieving 8% economic growth.
“With all your support and participation, collaborations and partnerships will take us to a brighter tomorrow,” Suarga said. ***
