UNS Awards Environmental Honour to Emil Salim
Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Solo conferred the Parasamya Anugerah Widyatama Taru Tirta Bawana environmental award upon Emil Salim, a prominent Indonesian environmental figure. The award was presented during the university’s 50th anniversary commemoration held at the Auditorium GPH Haryo Mataram, UNS, on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
UNS Rector Hartono symbolically presented the award to Emil Salim’s daughter, Amelia Salim, who attended on behalf of her father. Emil Salim participated in the award ceremony remotely.
Hartono stated that the award was given as a form of appreciation for Emil Salim’s long-standing contributions to environmental conservation in Indonesia. He noted that Emil Salim is regarded as a figure with considerable influence on the development of national environmental policy over several decades.
“This year, one of the themes of UNS’s anniversary focuses on environmental issues. From the various candidates who emerged, all parties ultimately agreed that Prof. Emil Salim deserves to receive this award because of his substantial contributions to the environmental field,” Hartono said in his address.
He expressed hope that the award could serve as inspiration for the UNS academic community and the broader public to become increasingly committed to environmental conservation. According to Hartono, protecting the environment is a shared responsibility amid various development challenges.
Emil Salim is known as a figure with an extensive career in government. He previously served as Minister of State for Government Apparatus Improvement and Cleansing during 1971–1973. Subsequently, he led the Ministry of Transportation from 1973–1978.
His career continued as Minister of State for Population and Environmental Affairs from 1978–1983. He subsequently served as Minister of State for Development Supervision and Environmental Affairs from 1983–1993.
In remarks delivered remotely, Emil Salim emphasised the importance of preserving Indonesia’s natural resource wealth. According to him, Indonesia possesses the advantage of being a tropical nation with extensive biodiversity.
“This natural potential must be utilised wisely whilst simultaneously preserving its sustainability in order to continue benefiting future generations. Indonesia’s biological wealth not only plays a role in maintaining environmental balance, but can also support the development of food and pharmaceuticals,” he said.
Emil Salim also assessed that higher education institutions play a crucial role in developing knowledge related to the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. He cited UNS’s initiative to develop research based on tropical natural potential as an example of academic contribution to societal advancement.
According to him, the development of knowledge stemming from Indonesia’s natural wealth can benefit not only the Indonesian nation, but also humanity more broadly through the health and food sectors.