As the world’s largest archipelago nation with over 17,000 islands, Indonesia currently faces highly complex and multidimensional climate change challenges.
Data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) shows Indonesia has experienced a temperature increase of 0.45 to 0.75 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the projected sea level rise reaches 0.8 to 12 centimeters per year. This condition is certainly very concerning as 65 percent of Indonesia’s 275 million inhabitants live in coastal areas.
According to Dr. Ikaputra, the Head of the UGM Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM), this condition makes Indonesia highly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels.
This fact also places Indonesia 14th in the Global Climate Risk Index. “This signifies a significant level of vulnerability to the impacts of climate change,” he said.
He conveyed that the level of vulnerability due to climate change impacts requires serious attention in resolution.
Therefore, Pustral UGM held a webinar titled Sustainable Infrastructure Development: Meeting the Climate Challenge on Tuesday (May 27).
The webinar was held amid a crucial moment when the world is facing increasingly pressing climate change challenges, with global temperatures reaching 1.51°C above pre-industrial levels in April. 2025.
“This condition signifies an urgency that can no longer be ignored. The presence of experts, practitioners, policymakers, academics, and all stakeholders is highly expected as a form of shared commitment in facing the climate crisis through sustainable infrastructure development,” he explained.
This webinar also featured speakers, including John Robertho, Director of Strategic Planning and Facility Management at PT Kereta Api (Persero).
Also present were Moekti Handajani Soejachmoen, Executive Director of the Indonesia Research Institute for Decarbonization (IRID), and Professor Mohammed Ali Berawi from the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Indonesia.
Professor Danang Parikesit, a Pustral UGM expert team member from the UGM Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, provided an introduction to the discussion.
Dr. Yuli Isnadi, a lecturer at the UGM Department of Public Policy and Management, served as the moderator.
John Robertho from PT Kereta Api Indonesia shared best practices in implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) to create a sustainable transportation ecosystem.
KAI, he mentioned, continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable business practices. This is evidenced by achieving an ESG score of 41 from S&P Global on (Dec. 18), 2024.
“This achievement places PT KAI in the top 20% in the Transportation and Transport Infrastructure sector, solidifying its commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices at an international level,” he said.
In the Indonesia Sustainable Awards 2025, PT KAI received a four-star award for The Best Company for Comprehensive ESG Implementation Practices and The Best Company for The Community Empowerment Programme.
Several key components in PT KAI’s decarbonization strategy include measuring emissions in KAI’s sustainability report and the carbon footprint of passenger and freight trains.
They also develop renewable energy sources as implementation, resulting in 64 solar power plants in 2024 and the use of B40 biodiesel.
KAI, he added, also performs energy efficiency, evidenced by the Jabodetabek LRT office buildings having obtained green building certification.
Additionally, as a form of sustainable transportation, some KAI trains are environmentally friendly, using electricity.
“We also conduct technology innovation by implementing green train initiatives (Hybrid KRDE) and carry out sustainability governance in the form of sustainability policies and an ESG roadmap,” he added.
Presenting the decarbonization strategy for the energy sector to achieve net-zero emissions (NZE), Moekti Handajani Soejachmoen stated that the decarbonization target aligns with the goal of the Paris Agreement to achieve NZE by 2050.
Several key principles need to be understood regarding decarbonization, including the fact that energy sector decarbonization does not conflict with improving welfare and economic growth.
Energy decarbonization is expected to prevent energy crises, energy scarcity, and other energy-related problems.
“Transition due to decarbonization must be just, and energy decarbonization impacts not only emissions but also investments (product carbon footprint),” Soejachmoen revealed.
In implementing the decarbonization strategy, Soejachmoen emphasized the need to consider various factors, including resources.
These natural resources encompass environmental and climatic conditions, while human resources encompass the socio-economic conditions of society.
According to Soejachmoen, it is necessary to consider the regulatory and institutional framework, as well as national funding and finance.
“Also various potentials for cooperation, both international and among domestic parties, including research & technology development, education, investment, trade, security, and others,” Soejachmoen explained.
Professor Mohammed Ali Berawi stated that the application of climate resilience in civil infrastructure design and construction requires diverse perspectives.
These perspectives are needed from industry practitioners, research institutions, and academics. Their insights are expected to provide a comprehensive overview of challenges and solutions in sustainable infrastructure development.
Professor Berawi emphasized the need to create value-added infrastructure projects.
This includes enhancing project efficiency and feasibility, as well as fostering innovation and technology transfer.
Additionally, it involves enhancing multi-sector cooperation, developing integrated and multifunctional infrastructure, and optimizing benefits for all stakeholders.
“Value Creation in sustainable development drives industry to promote added value and increased application of science, technology, and innovation. This is, of course, to meet broader, inclusive, and sustainable development goals,” Professor Berawi asserted.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photo: CNN Indonesia