Building Local Leadership for Sustainable Climate Action
C4Ledger - Indonesia
In December 2024, Jakarta witnessed the importance of community leadership in facing the challenges of climate change in the "Community Climate Leadership" session, which was part of the Indonesia Climate Week event series. One of the main speakers in this session was Yuni from the C4Ledger and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), who presented her research results on climate vulnerability and the role of local leadership in climate action.
Climate Vulnerability Research in Indonesia
Yuni revealed that the research results involved 300 respondents from various regions in Indonesia. The main findings show that households adapt to climate change in various ways, including:
- Changing consumption patterns
- Using personal savings
- Selling assets
- Borrow from neighbors
- Relying on social assistance and relatives
- Reducing food portions, with priority on children and the elderly
- Working outside the region or abroad
- Buying cheaper food, even if it is less healthy
As many as 90% of respondents stated that air temperatures continue to rise and significantly impact their lifestyles. However, the majority do not realise that the climate crisis causes these changes.
The Role of Local Champions in Climate Action
The results of this research highlight the importance of the role of “local champions” as enlightening agents in the community. They are individuals who understand the realities on the ground and can educate communities about the impacts of climate change and the steps that can be taken to adapt.
However, the main challenge faced is how academic research results can be understood and used by local champions so that they can convey information more effectively to the community. In her presentation, Yuni emphasised that academic research results are often only published in journals or other media, without an effective delivery mechanism to policy makers or grassroots communities.
Collaboration between Academics and NGOs
To overcome this challenge, close collaboration between academics and NGOs is needed. Academics have strong scientific data and evidence, while NGOs can advocate and convey information in a way that is more easily understood by the community. Synergy between the two parties will be key to strengthening local leadership in climate change action.
The session emphasised that community leadership and cross-sector collaboration are essential in addressing the challenges of climate change in Indonesia. With evidence-based research and support from various parties, climate action can be more effective and sustainable.
