UN Green Festival: Youth Lead Jakarta's Climate Drive

The United Nations in Indonesia, alongside various partners, organized the Green Community Festival to galvanize action against the escalating climate crisis. The event, held at Taman Martha Christina Tiahahu in Jakarta, drew approximately 1,000 participants from diverse sectors, including youth, community leaders, and the general public, all focused on combating climate change.

Director of the UN Information Centre in Indonesia, Miklos Gaspar, emphasized that climate action extends beyond large-scale policies, encompassing daily choices and community care. He highlighted World Environment Day as a crucial moment to heed the Earth's signals and respond with concrete actions. The festival featured workshops on urban farming, green investment talks, sustainability games, and exhibitions from various UN agencies and partner organizations.

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Climate action is not only about big policies. It is also about the choices we make every day, at home, at school, in our communities, and in the way we care for each other.

A significant highlight was the announcement of the "Cool School Challenges," a youth-led initiative that invited high schools across Indonesia to propose sustainable solutions for their schools and communities. The program received 76 submissions, with 15 finalists selected from various regions. These student ideas ranged from school greening projects and waste reduction to urban farming and energy-saving initiatives.

Gaspar noted the submissions demonstrate that young people are proactively taking action within their own environments, offering a source of hope. The winner of the Cool School Challenges was SMA Al Umanaa Boarding School from Sukabumi, West Java, showcasing the innovative spirit of Indonesian youth in addressing environmental concerns.

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The 76 submissions show that young people are not waiting for others to act. They are already starting from their own schools and communities.