What Can Citizens Do? Practical Lessons in Climate Action from Youth and Communities in Indonesia

Climate action begins with us. But before we act, we must first understand how the climate crisis affects us on the ground and how everyday people are already responding with courage, creativity, and community. One of the clearest examples of this lies in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where the VCA programme, through coalitions and local partners, has supported and worked closely with youth and communities since 2021.

At the heart of this movement is the Koalisi Aksi Orang Muda untuk Perubahan Iklim (KOPI) coalition, which empowers youth to participate in locally rooted climate action. Built on the value of baku dukung, a deep tradition of mutual support, the movement now includes over 100 young leaders across 12 District Executive Committees and one regional Flobamoratas Executive Committee. These young leaders have taken practical action, from coral reef restoration in Kupang and Alor to promoting sustainable tourism and marine biodiversity. In areas such as Ende, Ruteng and East Flores, they have established local food resilience initiatives by reviving traditional crops and creating community gardens. Products such as woven fabrics and locally grown coffee are being reimagined as marketable goods, contributing to a circular economy in Bajawa, Cool, Waingapu and Maumere.

Art has also proven to be a powerful vehicle for change. In Labuan Bajo and Lembata, youths have turned to creative storytelling, short films, and visual campaigns to raise awareness, an approach known as artivism. Such creativity is nurtured through leadership camps and the GRUF jamboree series, which equip youth with knowledge and tools for grassroots climate advocacy. These events impart scientific understanding and create pathways to long-term impact, as demonstrated by the successful lobbying for climate funding led by youth coalitions. This shows that organised, community-based initiatives can access resources often considered out of reach.

Across NTT, local champions are achieving similar breakthroughs. In Tal Village, Manggarai District, community members successfully advocated for the village government to allocate IDR 77 million from the Village Fund to support organic farming as a climate adaptation strategy. This outcome was the result of a considered process involving baseline research, village-level meetings and direct policy dialogue, all facilitated by VCA Alliance’s partner Yayasan Ayo Indonesia under the Koalisi Pangan BAIK.

Meanwhile, in Maumere, 45 civil society representatives, including farmers, fishers, young people and Indigenous communities, came together to draft a joint manifesto addressing development injustice and the climate crisis. The document was submitted to local and provincial governments as part of a growing movement for systemic change and climate justice legislation.

This commitment to citizen-led action extends far beyond NTT. In the city of Yogyakarta, VCA collaborated with the Village Government of Gedongkiwo to deliver a series of 13 training sessions on organic household waste management, reaching 350 residents across 18 neighbourhood units. Each participant received biopore tools, provided through the provincial budget, and was trained by a team comprising VCA, the Women Federation, and the City’s Environmental Agency. These sessions were supported by a practical pocketbook guide and a custom geospatial application to monitor biopore locations and usage. Continued advocacy led the village government to allocate a portion of its budget to sustain this initiative.

The spirit of community-led change is equally evident in everyday moments. During Eid al-Adha, a time often marked by widespread use of single-use plastic for meat distribution, VCA Alliance supported the Women Federation in advocating for sustainable alternatives, such as banana leaves or reusable biodegradable packaging. This led to the issuance of a formal circular letter by the Gedongkiwo government, distributed to mosque administrators and neighbourhood leaders and promoted via social media. The initiative has since been adopted as a best practice by surrounding administrative areas, illustrating how cultural and religious traditions can become powerful entry points for environmental action.

Young voices are also gaining prominence through community media. In the villages of Garusa and Beneik, local youth are receiving training in citizen journalism, supported by VCA and WWF’s partner Pt. PPMA. This capacity-building programme has resulted in newsletters and videos that showcase the climate leadership of Indigenous women, local wisdom and nature-based solutions. These stories, set to be released in 2025, aim to ensure that rural narratives are not left behind.

Taken together, these efforts, across regions, generations and sectors, demonstrate what climate action truly looks like when rooted in community. From coral reef restoration and organic farming to local journalism and faith-based advocacy, citizens are driving meaningful change, guided by collective wisdom, solidarity and a shared vision of a just and liveable future.

So, what can we do? We can start small by reducing plastic use, conserving energy, or rethinking our habits. But beyond individual changes, we can support, amplify, and learn from movements like these. Volunteer with local organisations. Join public forums. Share stories of impact. Advocate for policies that reflect the voices of communities. Because the future of our climate, and our country, depends on our collective action today.