There is an emerging consensus on climate change as the major threat of this century. Disasters triggered by climate change are expected to become more frequent in the coming decades, such as tropical cyclones, floods, sea level rise and droughts. These events will impact ecosystems and water resources, putting humans at risk. To address climate change, 174 countries and the European Union have signed the Paris Agreement, demonstrating a commitment to reduce global temperature rise by 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. Five years after the Paris Agreement, climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts (including scientific studies) are still urgently needed.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines adaptation (IPCC, 1996) as “the response to severe and moderate impacts of climate change. It refers to adjustments, both passive and reactive, to anticipate the real consequences of climate change. Climate change is implicitly recognized to occur in the future and needs to be accommodated in policy” (IPCC, 1996, p. 831). Islands and coastal areas are among the areas that will be increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Various literature reviews have demonstrated the role of cities and local governments in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Cities are considered to be the appropriate level of government that understands the social and economic dynamics of the region, and that can make informed decisions to protect local ecosystems.

As an archipelago of 17,504 islands, Indonesia is vulnerable to climate change-induced sea level rise. Land subsidence, seawater infiltration and water scarcity contribute to this vulnerability, which is further compounded by high population growth rates and urbanization. This situation has the potential to trigger inter-authority and inter-group conflicts, where the poor and minorities will be increasingly exposed to (and uninformed about) the impacts of climate change hazards.

The EU-funded CRIC (Climate Resilient and Inclusive Cities) project runs from 2020 to 2024, involving cities in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, India and Europe. In the FGD session organized by CRIC, it can be concluded that climate change adaptation efforts need to be supported by investment from cities, development of information technology-based solutions (e.g. Early Warning Systems), nature-based solutions and community involvement and preparedness.

In its implementation, the CRIC Project is coordinated by UCLG ASPAC, in collaboration with partners such as Pilot4Dev, ACR+, Ecolise, Gustave Eiffel University (UGE) and AIILSG. Through CRIC, partners will collaboratively develop tools to help cities with water and sanitation issues, waste management and early warning systems. To achieve this, CRIC will develop collaborative programs, promote the expertise of partners and encourage regular knowledge exchange involving pilot cities.

Reference:

• CRIC (2020), Policy Brief for Pilot Cities
• IPCC (1996), The Science of Climate Change