Indonesia Climate Week 2024: Celebrating Local Action for Global Impact

Through a fusion of discussion, art, and grassroots initiatives, the festival showcased the power of locally-led climate solutions and called for urgent, equitable action.

A Call for Meaningful Participation in Climate Solutions

The urgency of the climate crisis has never been more evident. Data from the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, exceeding the critical threshold of 1.5°C global warming. The need for locally-driven solutions is paramount in Indonesia, where climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities despite their minimal carbon footprint.

Febrilia Ekawati, Chair of Indonesia Climate Week, emphasised the significance of ensuring full and meaningful participation from these communities in shaping climate responses. “Communities across Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, NTT, and Tanah Papua are not just facing the impacts of climate change; they are actively developing innovative, locally-led solutions. It is time for their voices to be heard and their actions to be supported.”

Voices, Collaboration, and Climate Justice

The five-day event featured diverse activities, from panel discussions and policy dialogues to immersive art exhibitions and film screenings. These events fostered collaboration between government representatives, civil society organisations (CSOs), and local communities, reinforcing the message that climate action must be inclusive and participatory.

A key highlight was the Ruang Empati dan Ko-Kreasi (Empathy and Co-Creation Space), where discussions centred on the need for holistic, community-led climate strategies. Marc Gerritsen, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, attended the session alongside representatives from the VCA Alliance, CSOs, and various government ministries. Their collective stance was clear: community-led climate action is not just valuable — it is essential.

Aditya Bayunanda, CEO of WWF-Indonesia, echoed this sentiment: “Achieving climate justice is a shared responsibility. We must protect and scale up local climate initiatives that align with regional needs and realities.”

Art, Culture, and Local Wisdom as Climate Action

Beyond policy discussions, Indonesia Climate Week integrated art and culture into the climate dialogue, showcasing how traditional knowledge and creative expression can drive climate awareness and action.

Visitors explored exhibitions of Noken, traditional woven bags from Papua, and intricately carved wooden sculptures crafted by Papuan artisans. The festival also featured interactive booths, such as Mentari’s renewable energy education space, where attendees could learn about solar power while sketching portraits. Meanwhile, the Koalisi Pangan Baik presented local food alternatives from NTT, advocating for sustainable consumption.

The event’s film screenings were equally impactful. The opening night featured a traditional dance performance by VCA Tanah Papua, setting the stage for powerful narratives on climate struggles. Among the highlights was Ignited, a thought-provoking film by Riri Royanto that explored the intersection of art, activism, and environmental advocacy.

Hands-on Workshops and Community Engagement

Workshops provided an interactive space for participants to gain practical skills in sustainable living. Attendees engaged in solidarity beadwork, learned about cassava-based food alternatives, and participated in eco-enzyme and sustainable soap-making sessions.

Artivism played a central role, with workshops on shadow puppet storytelling and upcycling plastic waste into expressive artworks. These activities encouraged creativity and demonstrated practical ways to repurpose materials and reduce environmental impact.

Scaling Up Local Solutions to Drive Systemic Change

Since 2021, VCA Indonesia has been championing grassroots climate resilience, mobilising 14 multi-stakeholder forums, influencing 11 policies from village to provincial levels, and securing approximately IDR 6 billion in funding for community-led initiatives. These efforts have supported mangrove reforestation, spring conservation, beach clean-ups, and local food cultivation, proving that small-scale actions can drive systemic transformation.

However, local action alone is not enough. A paradigm shift is needed at the policy level to support long-term climate adaptation. “We need systemic transformation,” stated Arti Indallah Tjakranegara of VCA Indonesia – Yayasan Humanis. “Policymakers must adopt sustainable, adaptive governance, rights-based approach for managing climate crisis especially for coastal areas, indigenous lands, and agricultural regions to ensure resilience for generations to come.”

A Collective Commitment to Climate Justice

The resounding message from Indonesia Climate Week 2024 was clear: climate policies must be just and inclusive. Communities must not be passive spectators but active participants in shaping the decisions that affect their lives and futures.

“We need equitable climate policies that fully engage communities. Without their voices, policies risk failing the very people they aim to protect,” concluded Arti Indallah.

As the world grapples with the escalating climate crisis, Indonesia Climate Week 2024 serves as both an inspiration and a call to action. The time to act is now, and it begins with empowering those already leading the way.