Collaboration in Facing the Impacts of Climate Change in Indonesia

Tidal flooding that continues to inundate the coastal areas of Pekalongan City, changing rainfall patterns threatening the agriculture of the Kajang indigenous community in Bulukumba, declining Toraja coffee productivity due to extreme weather, and the increasing risk of urban flooding in Samarinda demonstrate that climate change has become a reality faced by Indonesian society today. Although the impacts differ in each region, experiences from these various areas show one commonality: climate resilience requires collaboration between government, communities, local organisations, the private sector, and development partners to create solutions that meet the needs of the people. These lessons were a key focus of the National Seminar on Climate Change Adaptation organised by KEMITRAAN together with the Ministry of Environment with support from the Adaptation Fund. The Director of Climate Change Adaptation at the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency, Franky Zamzani, stated that his ministry has made climate change a priority in the national development programme. “The national government, through the Asta Cita, places climate change as a strategic pillar in national development, especially through the green economy and climate resilience missions. For this reason, the government, through various national development policies, continues to encourage the strengthening of regional and community capacity in facing the impacts of climate change, including through the development of various community-based adaptation initiatives,” he said. According to Franky, good practices developing in the regions need to become part of the national solution in facing the climate crisis. “What communities are doing in Pekalongan, Bulukumba, Toraja, and Samarinda shows that adaptation solutions born from local needs are often the most effective. Our challenge is to strengthen, replicate, and integrate these lessons into broader development policies,” he stated. Since 2019, the Ministry of Environment, through the Deputy for Climate Change Control and Carbon Economic Value Governance, and KEMITRAAN, with support from the Adaptation Fund, have been running climate change adaptation programmes in five regions of Indonesia with different climate impacts. In Pekalongan City, communities face the threat of tidal flooding and rising sea levels affecting residential areas and the economic activities of coastal communities. In Bulukumba Regency, changing weather patterns impact the agricultural sector and the livelihood resilience of the Kajang indigenous community. Meanwhile, in four regencies within the Saddang River Basin in South Sulawesi Province, extreme weather has reduced the production of the world-renowned Toraja coffee. In Samarinda City, the risk of urban flooding and extreme weather is a challenge that needs to be anticipated through strengthened governance and community capacity. Through this programme, various parties are encouraged to strengthen community adaptation capacity, improve climate-responsive development planning, and build collaboration between the central government, local governments, village administrations, community groups, and vulnerable groups. Hugo Remaury, a representative of the Adaptation Fund, affirmed that his organisation supports various initiatives aimed at strengthening community resilience to the impacts of climate change worldwide, including in Indonesia. The Adaptation Fund is an international funding mechanism established as part of global commitments to support community initiatives in adapting to climate change. “The Adaptation Fund was established based on a decision of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, with the aim of financing projects and programmes that help vulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to climate change. This funding is based on the needs, views, and priorities of each country,” he explained. According to Hugo, the success of climate change adaptation depends heavily on the ability to deliver solutions that meet the needs of local communities. “Communities on the front lines of climate change impacts are not only beneficiaries but also sources of knowledge and innovation. Experiences in Indonesia show that when climate funding is combined with local ownership, community leadership, and strong collaboration, the resulting impact is more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the real needs of the community.” He added that various lessons from project sites in Indonesia can serve as examples of how investment in climate change adaptation can generate social, economic, and environmental benefits simultaneously. Meanwhile, KEMITRAAN Executive Director Nurina Widagdo stressed that each region faces different climate challenges, thus requiring a contextual approach. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and what we have learned from Pekalongan, Bulukumba, Tana Toraja and three other areas in South Sulawesi, and Samarinda is that successful adaptation stems from the ability to bring together community needs, government commitment, local knowledge, and the support of various partners in a collaborative space,” she said. According to Nurina, strengthening climate resilience must go hand in hand with strengthening community capacity and creating sustainable livelihood alternatives. “Adaptation is not just about surviving the impacts of climate change, but ensuring communities have the capacity, resources, and opportunities to continue to thrive amidst change.”