MPR Vice Chair Emphasises Urgency of Research in Energy Transition at MPR Goes to Campus

Eddy Soeparno, Vice Chair of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) from the Mandate National Awakening Party (PAN) faction, has emphasised the strategic importance of higher education institutions in addressing climate crisis challenges whilst attending the 42nd MPR Goes to Campus programme at Sriwijaya University.

At the forum, which attracted over 300 students and academics, he called for campuses to become discussion spaces and driving forces for genuine collaboration to prevent the increasingly severe impacts of the climate crisis.

In his presentation, Soeparno stressed that the climate crisis is no longer a future concern but a present-day reality. Extreme weather pattern changes, threats to food security, and risks to the national economy are concrete consequences that must be addressed collectively.

“Climate crisis is a national challenge. It touches economic, social, and even state security dimensions. Therefore, the solutions we develop must be based on collaboration, scientific knowledge, and move in unified orchestration,” stated Soeparno on Friday (27 February 2026).

The University of Indonesia political science doctor further explained that universities hold a unique position as centres for research, innovation, and character development of young people. Through renewable energy research, waste management innovation, green economy strengthening, and data-based public education, higher education institutions can become crucial nodes in accelerating the transition towards sustainable development.

“Indonesia possesses significant potential in renewable new energy and extraordinary biodiversity wealth. However, we face a paradox where our energy needs remain dominated by imports,” Soeparno noted.

“Therefore, I encourage acceleration of the transition towards renewable energy to strengthen our energy security. This acceleration will be optimal with strong research support and science-based policy recommendations from universities,” he continued.

The 42nd MPR Goes to Campus programme serves as a momentum to strengthen shared commitment between the MPR and higher education institutions in mainstreaming national values, including responsibility for environmental preservation as part of constitutional mandate.

“Some may ask why MPR leadership concerns itself with the environment. The answer is that I am fulfilling the constitutional mandate of Article 28H Paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution concerning the right to a healthy environment, and Article 33 Paragraph 4 of the 1945 Constitution to ensure economic development is implemented according to sustainability principles and environmental considerations,” Soeparno concluded.