Dharsono Hartono

Aiming to reduce carbon emissions, Dharsono Hartono’s Katingan Mentaya Project protects biodiversity while creating sustainable economic development opportunities that improve the lives of people in rural communities. The project generates an average of 8 million triple gold certified carbon credits per year, which is equivalent to taking 2 million cars off the road.

Hartono is CEO of PT Rimba Makmur Utama, an Indonesian-based company that implements a sustainable land-use model by reducing deforestation and degradation, promoting conservation, enhancing ecological integrity, and promoting economic growth. Through the Katingan Mentaya Project, the company protects and restores large areas of peat swamp forest while offering local communities sustainable income sources selling carbon credits, permits that allow companies to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses. 

Hartono was the initiator of the Indonesia Palm Oil Pledge (IPOP), a private sector-led initiative launched during the 2014 Climate Summit to find implementable solutions for sustainable palm oil in Indonesia. He also works with the local communities to help them shift from extractive economic activities, such as logging, to more sustainable activities. Conservation has been near to Hartono’s heart. He served as the Deputy Head of Permanent Committee in Sustainable Forestry, Conservation and Climate for Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2010-2015. 

He is the Deputy Head of Permanent Committee for Americas and International Economic Institution for Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and has been working with World Economic Forum (WEF) to form the Natural Climate Solutions Alliance.

Hartono has been recognized with numerous accolades including Indonesian EY Entrepreneur – Environmental Avant Garde Award, a Social Innovators of the Year by the Schwab Foundation and a Sustainability Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. He is a graduate of Cornell University earning both a bachelor’s degree in operational research and industrial engineering, and a master’s in financial engineering.