Palembang, September 15, 2025 – The transition to renewable energy is crucial as the climate crisis becomes increasingly apparent. Therefore, universities as higher education institutions can play a role in creating solutions that can be directly applied in society. By implementing environmentally friendly technologies and educating students about the importance of sustainable energy management, universities can accelerate the energy transition in society. In addition, universities can also implement initiatives such as the green campus concept, which integrates environmentally friendly principles into campus operations and infrastructure.
Edison Siagian, Director of SUPD I, Directorate General of Regional Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, said that in order to support a just energy transition, the concept of a just transition must be implemented inclusively. This means that no one should be left behind, whether in big cities or in villages. Universities, as educational institutions, have a strategic role to play as agents of change. Therefore, the implementation of green campuses is very important. Green campuses are not only about saving energy, but also integrating various environmentally friendly technologies, such as smart lighting that can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.
“At the implementation level, campuses can take concrete steps by adopting energy efficiency technologies, such as smart lighting, efficient water management, and the use of renewable energy in campus facilities. Campuses can also introduce electric vehicles into the campus transportation system and encourage the development of renewable energy-based projects for other sectors, such as agriculture,“ said Edison in a focus group discussion entitled ”Accelerating Energy Transition Through the Implementation of Green Campus in South Sumatra,” organized by the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) on Monday (9/15).
Ishaq Iskandar, Head of the Higher Education Service Institution (LLDIKTI) Region II, emphasized that for campuses to truly play a role in the energy transition, there are four strategic steps that need to be taken. First, campuses need to incorporate education on sustainability and energy transition into their curricula. With an impact-based approach, students will not only learn theory, but also be directly involved in practical activities relevant to sustainability issues. Second, encourage student activity units (UKM) to focus on environmental sustainability. For example, students can collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the field of climate change.
Third, students need to be encouraged to organize environmental actions that have a real impact. These actions can take the form of carbon emission reduction projects, educational campaigns on global warming, or renewable energy management initiatives on campus. These activities must involve students from various disciplines in order to produce more holistic solutions. Fourth, in addition to local activities, students also need to be encouraged to participate in international forums that discuss climate change and energy transition. For example, participating in Youth Climate Summits,” said Ishaq.
Meanwhile, Vishnu Juwono, Chair of UI GreenMetric, said that the UI Green Metric initiative aims to assess and encourage sustainability on campuses around the world. Through UI Green Metric, universities can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability by managing various aspects of the campus, such as energy, water, transportation, waste management, and others. The program began in 2010 and now involves more than 1,400 universities from various countries.
“Sustainability is not just about making campuses look green, but also about creating an environment that is more friendly to nature and society. University participation in Indonesia in the UI Green Metric continues to increase, although there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of the participation of private universities. It is hoped that more universities in Indonesia will participate and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability,” said Vishnu.
M Said, Head of the Green Campus Program Development Team at Sriwijaya University (UNSRI), explained that as a campus focused on sustainability, UNSRI has designed the Green-Agro-Eco-Edu-Tourism -Campus concept, which is divided into six main pillars, including creating a curriculum that focuses on sustainability and environmental management, research that supports innovation in the fields of environment and renewable energy, and conservation by optimizing natural resources and raising awareness of the importance of environmental preservation.
“We have also adopted the Triple-Bottom Line concept to ensure economic, social, and ecosystem sustainability on campus. This resilience includes the ecosystem and landscape by preserving the natural environment around the campus to create a healthy space for the campus community, economic resilience by promoting efficient and sustainable management to support the campus’s economic development, and social resilience and livelihoods by ensuring that the campus can provide social benefits to the surrounding community, creating inclusiveness and diversity,” said Said.
