UI-Griffith University Collaborate in Sustainable Development and Climate Change

In the context of research related to climate change and sustainable development, the University of Indonesia (UI) is collaborating with Griffith University from Australia. The collaboration which was realized in the Australia-Indonesia Collaborative Program on Sustainable Development and Climate Change (CAISDCC) was officially launched on Friday, November 2nd, 2018 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Jakarta.

The inauguration was attended by Prof. Dr. Ir. Muhammad Anis, M. Met. (UI Chancellor), Prof. Caitlin Byrne (Director of the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University), Gary Quinlan AO (Australian Ambassador to Indonesia), Prof. Rachmat Witoelar (President’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Control), and Prof. Jatna Supriatna, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Director of the Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources UI).

Cooperation consists of several focuses, namely high-level dialogue between the two countries; Research Collaboration; Support for Research, Mentoring and Capacity Building, and Student Exchange between the Two Countries.

Through this collaboration UI represented by the Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources (I-SER) and Griffith University represented by the Griffith Asia Institute, is expected to produce several joint research between Indonesia and Australia and produce science-based policy recommendations in the field of climate change and sustainable development.

The government will be the party that provides input and receives the results of the study. This is important to help Indonesia achieve the national greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 29% by 2030 or up to 41% if there is international cooperation.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Muhammad Anis, M.Met, Chancellor of the University of Indonesia stated that Indonesia and Australia have collaborated in science and innovation for years. The two countries share a unique bond as neighbors at the maritime junction of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

UI’s involvement in the CAISDCC collaboration is a form of UI support for the Government of Indonesia’s efforts in controlling climate change. UI as a factory of knowledge & expertise is expected to be able to provide input and innovative solutions regarding issues of sustainable development that lie ahead of these two countries.

In line with Anies, Prof. Dr. Jatna Supriatna, Chair of the Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources (I-SER) stated that cooperation in dealing with issues of sustainable development and climate change is needed. Nobody can work alone. Long-term collaboration from the two countries in various sectors needs to be refreshed from time to time, to meet the changing needs in the region, especially in this era of unpredictable climate change.

An overview of I-SER

Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources (I-SER) was formed based on Indonesia’s commitment and the University of Indonesia’s vision to become “The World-Class Research University” through science and research. I-SER was built to answer the issue of sustainable development based on science and research.

Academics, scientists, and practitioners who are members have a vital role in clarifying the facts, creating and building solutions to help solve the very complex dimensions of the problem of climate change and the basic needs of overall sustainable development from upstream to downstream.

In the work, I-SER adopted the 17 goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development by addressing the need to address rising global temperatures through well-integrated science. By integrating our understanding of the tropical islands from various disciplines, we are looking for science-based global environmental solutions to support the sustainable development of the tropics.

As a forum for academics and practitioners, the I-SER which is located under the FMIPA UI educational institution is very important to participate in spreading the knowledge and skills needed to encourage sustainable consumption and production patterns and to improve the management of natural resources, agriculture. For this reason, I-SER also adopted the importance of developing Quadruple Helix among government, society, industry, academia, because the understanding of these four pillars is very important to be juxtaposed together in supporting the implementation of sustainable solutions.