UGM Expert: Indonesia Enters Climate Crisis Phase, Development Must Consider Environmental Capacity

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Environmental Geography lecturer Emilya Nurjani has warned that current natural phenomena indicate Indonesia has entered a climate crisis phase. This condition requires rapid, integrated, and serious handling from all stakeholders. “The phenomenon of climate change occurring in Indonesia has caused greater impacts and resulted in disruption to human life, so it can be called a climate crisis because it requires immediate action,” Emilya said in an interview on Monday (6/7/2026). This warning aligns with records from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), which places the 2023–2025 period as the three hottest years in modern observation history. Additionally, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts the global average temperature in 2026–2030 will be in the range of 1.3–1.9 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Emilya highlighted that the 2015 Paris Agreement target to hold global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius remains far from expectations. “The continuing rise in the earth’s temperature is evidence that various carbon emission reduction efforts undertaken by countries around the world have not been able to significantly curb the rate of global warming,” she said. Rising air temperatures trigger a chain of environmental problems, from high water demand and accelerated evaporation to the risk of extreme drought. On the other hand, unpredictable rainfall patterns cause seasonal shifts and increased intensity of extreme weather such as floods, landslides, and high waves. The agricultural sector is one of the most affected. Changes in planting patterns, the risk of crop failure, pest attacks, and declining productivity threaten national food security. In the long term, this crisis will trigger ecosystem damage, rising sea levels, and massive socio-economic losses. Facing these risks, Emilya emphasised the importance of incorporating climate change risk aspects into the preparation of Regional Spatial Plans (RTRW) and Detailed Spatial Plans (RDTR). Development that ignores environmental carrying capacity will only worsen carbon emissions and reduce natural carbon absorption. “This is due to the rampant conversion of forests, unplanned urbanisation, development in flood-prone areas, and the reduction of water catchment areas,” she explained. She encouraged the application of nature-based solutions through the development of blue and green infrastructure. As a concrete step, collaboration between government, academia, the business world, and the community is needed. “Facing climate change requires combining mitigation and adaptation, namely reducing the causes of climate change and reducing its impacts,” Emilya concluded.