RSPO RT 2025: Advancing Two Decades of Sustainability Through Real Action

What Is the RSPO RT (Roundtable Conference)?

Gaia, The Roundtable Conference (RT) of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is an annual global forum that gathers members and stakeholders from across the palm oil value chain. The RT serves as a platform for exchanging insights, addressing challenges, showcasing innovations, and strengthening commitments towards sustainable palm oil production.

More than a conference, the RT has evolved into a collaborative hub where industry experts, NGOs, governments, and communities unite to develop meaningful, long-term solutions for environmental and social impacts within the sector.

Themes of RSPO RT Over the Years

The themes of the RSPO RT reflect the organisation’s evolution and the shifting priorities of the global sustainability landscape. Over the years, several themes have been introduced to align with emerging environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges:

• RT2023 – Jakarta: “Partners for the Next 20” — emphasising global collaboration to usher in the next chapter of sustainable palm oil.
• RT2024: “Innovating to Deliver Impact” — calling on stakeholders to drive meaningful change through innovation and cross-sector partnerships.
• RT2025: “Building the Next 20: Sustainability in Action” — a forward-looking commitment to turning vision into tangible action as RSPO embarks on its next 20-year journey.

These themes underline RSPO’s ongoing dedication to elevating standards, expanding partnerships, and ensuring the industry remains accountable and progressive.

GAIA’s Participation at RT 2023: A Look Back

GAIA Indonesia was actively involved in RT 2023, held in Jakarta from 20–22 November 2023. During the event, GAIA showcased its work by opening an exhibition booth, welcoming delegates from Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond.

The booth served as a platform for meaningful conversations surrounding GAIA’s environmental initiatives, technical methodologies, and long-standing commitment to ecological restoration. The engagement at RT 2023 strengthened GAIA’s visibility among global sustainability actors and highlighted its role in supporting RSPO’s ecosystem through responsible and science-based interventions.

RT 2025 Theme: “Building the Next 20 – Sustainability in Action”

RT 2025 will take place on 3–5 November 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the theme “Building the Next 20: Sustainability in Action”. This theme signifies RSPO’s renewed focus on translating commitments into measurable action, encouraging stakeholders to showcase real-world progress rather than promises alone.

The conference is expected to highlight:

• Innovative sustainability strategies
• Strengthening smallholder inclusion
• Nature-positive approaches
• Transparency and accountability mechanisms

RT 2025 marks the beginning of RSPO’s next era — one anchored in action, evidence, and long-term impact.

GAIA’s Contribution to RSPO: Delivering RaCP Services

GAIA Indonesia plays an important role in supporting RSPO through its work on the Remediation and Compensation Procedure (RaCP) — a mandatory process for members who have cleared land without prior High Conservation Value (HCV) assessment.

GAIA’s RaCP services include:

• Conducting Land Use Change Analysis (LUCA)
• Calculating environmental liabilities
• Designing socially responsible compensation plans
• Supporting companies through RSPO RaCP submissions and compliance

This service helps RSPO members achieve accountability for past land clearing while restoring ecological balance and supporting affected communities.