Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) plays an active and strategic role in cooperative planning for climate change disaster mitigation and adaptation, working closely with national and regional governments, local communities, and international partners. This collaboration reflects UNNES’s mission as a Conservation University committed to promoting sustainability, resilience, and environmental stewardship across Indonesia.
One of the flagship examples of this collaboration is the Addendum of Cooperation on Educational Forest Development (2018–2023) between UNNES, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), and Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (UNSOED), in partnership with the Central Java Provincial Environmental and Forestry Agency (DLHK) and the Watershed and Protected Forest Management Agency (BPDAS). The cooperation focuses on the rehabilitation of critical watershed areas, reforestation, and educational forest management, both within and outside the campus. The initiative began with a symbolic plastic waste clean-up campaign to raise environmental awareness and was followed by a public lecture by Ir. Sugeng Riyanto, M.Sc., Head of DLHK Central Java.
According to Prof. Dr. Ir. Amin Retnoningsih, M.Si., Head of the UNNES Conservation Unit, this partnership continues earlier conservation efforts, expanding the scale and scope of tree-planting activities based on geospatial data and coordinated land-use planning. Each planting site must be registered with specific geographic coordinates and land area data to qualify for seedlings from DLHK. This ensures that forest rehabilitation efforts directly contribute to climate resilience, mitigating flooding, landslides, and other disasters that may trigger the displacement of local populations.
UNNES’s climate action is also rooted in community engagement. Through the Student Organization Capacity Strengthening Program (PPK Ormawa) of HIMA IPA Terpadu FMIPA, UNNES has implemented a series of “Kampung Iklim” (Climate Village) programs across 11 villages in Semarang City, Semarang Regency, and Demak. Activities include ecobrick workshops, urban farming, biofloc catfish cultivation, rainwater harvesting systems with filters, and biopore infiltration installations. These initiatives empower residents to adapt to changing weather patterns, manage waste sustainably, and strengthen community-based disaster resilience. The program’s evaluation, led by Dr. Zaenal Abidin, M.Sc., Ph.D., highlighted the importance of students leaving a legacy of practical environmental knowledge and innovation that supports local livelihoods and ecological balance.
In the academic and policy research domain, UNNES expands its contribution to international climate cooperation through the Centre for Literacy Studies (FBS). From August 2023 to July 2024, the Center leads a joint research project titled “Inclusive Climate Adaptation: The Roles of Women’s Climate Advocacy Network”, in collaboration with Bappenas, Kemdikbudristek, BRIN, the Knowledge Partnership Platform (KONEKSI), and leading universities such as the Australian National University (ANU), University of Western Australia (UWA), and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the study focuses on women-led NGOs in Yogyakarta, Palu, and Kupang, examining their roles in inclusive climate adaptation, community advocacy, and environmental protection.
The research team—led by Dr. Zulfa Sakhiyya and including Girindra Putri Dewi Saraswati, Zuhrul Anam, Sri Sumaryani, and Agung Ginanjar Anjaniputra—aims to develop data-driven policy recommendations for national climate adaptation frameworks. The study outputs include a public database, infographics, and scientific publications to support evidence-based decision-making for climate resilience and disaster response, particularly regarding gender and displacement issues in vulnerable regions.
Through these multi-level initiatives—spanning policy planning, education, research, and grassroots empowerment—UNNES demonstrates a comprehensive approach to cooperative climate disaster management. By integrating academic expertise with government and community collaboration, the university contributes to reducing climate-related risks, enhancing local adaptive capacity, and ensuring that vulnerable populations are better protected from the impacts of environmental crises and potential displacement.
In doing so, UNNES solidifies its position as a national leader in sustainable education and disaster-resilient planning, aligning with Indonesia’s climate agenda and global goals under SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
