Efforts to mitigate climate change across all layers of society require strong media support to foster inclusive and effective public communication. Adaptive and locally relevant approaches are key, particularly in rural areas that are vulnerable to climate impacts.
Indonesia has taken steps in this direction through the 2014 National Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation (RAN API), which emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness and understanding of climate change and its effects.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Nezar Patria, stated that climate change issues demand urgent, evidence-based responses rather than waiting for absolute scientific consensus.
He emphasized that climate change requires immediate action grounded in solid evidence, not merely delays awaiting perfect scientific conclusions. However, Patria also highlighted a practical challenge: many journalists are generalists tasked with covering complex climate issues.
“Journalists play a vital role in bridging the communication gap between scientists and the media,” said the deputy minister at the CONNECT! #8 workshop themed “Media Communication on Climate Change Policies,” held at the Smart Green Learning Center (SGLC), Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM), on Tuesday, Jun. 3.
Professor Puji Astuti, Director of Partnerships and Global Relations, stated that the CONNECT initiative, in collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada, aims to strengthen media communication and create a space for cross-sector cooperation between researchers, governments, development partners, and practitioners.
This collaboration primarily focuses on joint research conducted by UGM and Deakin University, involving 14 researchers from Indonesia and Australia.
“This partnership seeks to strengthen institutional cooperation to produce inclusive and sustainable policies and technologies,” she explained.
Professor Astuti added that the collaboration between higher education institutions from both countries and the media serves as a tangible example of international educational diplomacy while also strengthening public trust in climate policy communication.
“We aim to understand how communities, especially in rural areas, receive, process, and trust information related to climate policies and how we can build public trust through inclusive, data-driven communication,” she said.
Tim Stapleton, Minister Counsellor for Governance and Human Development at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), also stated that the Indonesia–Australia partnership continues to grow in support of inclusive and sustainable development.
One such collaboration is the joint research between UGM and Deakin University, which fosters two-way learning between the countries in addressing climate change.
This joint research focuses on enhancing media communication to improve rural communities’ resilience to climate change impacts, as well as strengthening public capacity to assess available information and engage in relevant policy-making.
“Building resilience in at-risk rural communities through enhanced media communication on climate policies is the focus of this research funded by CONNECT,” he said.
Director of Carbon Economic Value Governance at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Wahyu Marjaka, emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder participation in equitably disseminating climate messages.
“We need to ensure the active involvement of various stakeholders so that climate information reaches all levels of society, including remote areas,” he stated.
A similar point was made by the Head of the Environment and Forestry Agency of the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), Kusno Wibowo, who stressed that cross-sector synergy is essential to ensure climate communication does not remain merely a discourse.
He believes that local governments have a strategic role in bridging national policies with community needs on the ground. Meanwhile, Professor Greg Barton from Deakin University Indonesia Campus highlighted that while people often have good intentions toward the environment, they may lack adequate understanding of climate change.
“Often, Indonesian communities have good intentions but insufficient information, which can inadvertently harm the environment,” explained Professor Barton.
Collaborative research findings were also presented by Dr. Anna Klas from Deakin University, who explained the differing characteristics of media reporting on climate issues in Indonesia and Australia, particularly in rural contexts.
She shared that her research has led to the development of a multilingual, AI-based tool that provides accurate and accessible information in at-risk areas.
From a media perspective, Andrias Ekoyuono, Chief of AI and Corporate Strategy at Kumparan.com, emphasized the need for collaboration among policymakers, communities, and businesses to develop a credible narrative on climate change.
“At Kumparan, we strive to ensure better access to climate change information, and the key is cross-sector collaboration,” he affirmed.
As a university committed to the values of populism, independence, and sustainability, UGM consistently promotes the role of science and cross-sector collaboration in addressing global challenges through real and applicable solutions.
In the context of climate change, UGM not only produces knowledge but also actively builds partnerships with local and international stakeholders to strengthen community capacities, particularly in vulnerable areas, enabling them to adapt and thrive in responding to climate impacts in a sustainable manner at both local and global levels.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photographer: Donnie