Jakarta, July 23, 2025 – Climate change is now a real threat to life. Increasing global warming makes the earth increasingly vulnerable to various risks, such as increasingly frequent natural disasters, extreme weather, and the emergence of disease outbreaks. Unfortunately, many of these issues have not been comprehensively addressed and have the potential to cause concern for future generations.
This situation requires every region to take active action, including cities in Indonesia. One example is Bogor City, which, through its Environmental Agency (DLH), continues to strive to foster climate-friendly behavior in urban areas. Muhamad Haris, Head of the Environmental Pollution Control, Conservation, and Climate Change Division of the Bogor City Environmental Agency, stated that his agency has implemented the Climate Village Program (ProKlim) to increase community capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather and natural disasters. Since 2016, ProKlim has been implemented in several urban villages, such as Kencana and East Cilendek.
“We also focus on waste management through the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R) principle. Several programs implemented include waste banks and TPS3R (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Waste Processing Sites) to sort and process waste at the community level.
Furthermore, we also use the SIKASAI application, which makes it easier for the public to report and monitor waste management. We also campaign to reduce plastic use,” he explained at the launch of the Individual Carbon Footprint Demographic Profile in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas on Java Island on Wednesday (July 23).
Haris emphasized that a circular economy approach is also being implemented in Bogor City, such as at the Mutiara Bogor Raya TPS3R. There, the community not only manages waste but also runs productive businesses such as catfish farming, free-range chicken farming, and organic farming, all utilizing the processed waste.
Meanwhile, Rusmala Dewi, a Young Expert Environmental Impact Controller for DKI Jakarta Province, said that changing community behavior takes time as the climate crisis becomes more pronounced, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. The key is consistency in education, public campaigns, and support from all parties.
“To reduce emissions amid the ongoing climate crisis, we are implementing integrated public transportation services such as Transjakarta and JakLingko, which are even free for certain community groups. This encourages people to switch from private vehicles to more environmentally friendly public transportation,” he said.
Furthermore, regarding waste management, Rusmala said, Jakarta has launched the Jakarta Aware of Waste program, which encourages source reduction, recycling practices, and the use of eco-enzymes. This initiative also involves housewives, schools, communities, and businesses to foster the habit of sorting and processing waste sustainably. The Adiwiyata School program has also been expanded to schools under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, focusing on environmental education from an early age. This is crucial because the most effective way to develop environmentally friendly character starts with children.
“However, challenges such as parental resistance to children’s environmental activities and limited human resources still need to be overcome. Therefore, synergy between schools, parents, and communities is key to success,” he explained.
Fatmah, a lecturer at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of Indonesia, stated that the Carbon Footprint study provides new insights because it illustrates how regional characteristics influence an individual’s carbon footprint. One important finding is that a person’s income level has the strongest influence on the amount of emissions produced. This means that the higher the income, the greater the consumption and activities that trigger carbon emissions.
“The initial step to raise public awareness is to promote the use of the Jejakkarbonku.id feature, which can help individuals calculate their personal carbon footprint and provide education about a more sustainable lifestyle. Some low-carbon lifestyles that can be started include using public transportation or electric vehicles, reducing consumption of red meat, which produces high emissions, choosing local food over imported goods, purchasing energy-efficient electronic equipment, and adopting simple habits like bringing your own shopping bags to avoid continuously using single-use plastic,” she said.
Haruki Agustina, Director of Climate Change Mitigation at the Ministry of Environment, said that the study of individual carbon footprints is not merely academic, but a concrete measuring tool that helps the government develop mitigation strategies from the most basic level: from individuals, communities, to cities. The resulting data can be used as a baseline for estimating potential emissions based on population size, such as in waste management. With a strong baseline, emission estimates and projections can be more accurate and precise.
“There’s been a lot of research on this issue in universities. Unfortunately, the research results are still scattered and not well consolidated. Academic research, however, has a strong scientific basis and can provide strategic input for the government. Therefore, the Ministry is open to receiving research results, whether through official letters, hearings, presentations, or data-based policy proposals. In fact, several university studies have successfully entered the policymaking process, including through the Ministry’s e-library platform. This proves that the academic-to-policy pathway is real and open,” he said.
Muhammad Rafli Nurmin Said, Business Development Consultant from the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), highlighted that many companies have not adopted green business practices because they perceive low consumer awareness of environmental issues.
In fact, studies show that Gen Z’s awareness of climate change is cognitively high. This means they know and understand the issue. Unfortunately, only a few have actually changed their behavior. Only around 0.47% consistently adopt a low-emission lifestyle, even though 90% express concern about climate change.
“To bridge the gap between knowledge and action, IESR established an initiative called the Indonesian Clean Energy Generation. This program has reached around 25 cities with nearly 1,000 young members involved in clean energy education and advocacy, as well as carbon offset programs, such as mangrove planting and revitalizing solar/hydropower plants (PLTS/PLTMH) in villages.
Beyond advocacy, changes are also needed in consumption habits. In other countries, many consumers are starting to consider eco-friendly labels, such as a product’s carbon footprint or sustainable materials, before purchasing goods. In Indonesia, this awareness is still low. However, if awareness increases and behavior changes, businesses will be encouraged to transform towards a green economy,” he said.
