Jakarta and Banyumas, Indonesia | May 21–23, 2025 – UCLG ASPAC hosted the Climate Resilience and Innovation Forum (CRIF) 2025 in partnership with the Jakarta Special Capital Region and with support from the European Union. Bringing together over 300 participants from across Asia and Europe to accelerate local climate action, the event marked the conclusion of the Climate Resilient and Inclusive Cities (CRIC) Project. Held in Jakarta, continued with visit to Banyumas from 21 to 23 May 2025, the event highlighted the importance of city leadership, cooperation, and innovation in building resilience.
Opening Session: A Call for Local Leadership
The forum opened in Jakarta with a series of powerful statements from leaders in government and development cooperation. Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General, reaffirmed the critical role of local governments in addressing the climate crisis. “It takes the whole city government to mainstream climate actions. However, creating sustainable climate actions needs even bigger efforts by building local, regional and global partnerships of sustainable cities that provide a range of support from technology to finance,” she said.
Mr. Denis Chaibi, the Ambassador of the European Union in Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, reaffirmed the European Union’s ongoing commitment to climate resilience. “Addressing the threat of climate change remains a top priority for the European Union (EU). … Through the Climate Resilient and Inclusive Cities (CRIC) project, Indonesia and the EU are working together to bring more inclusiveness in their respective cities, so that they get stronger in the face of climate change.”
On behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs (MOHA) of Indonesia, Director General of Regional Administration, Mr. Safrizal ZA stressed that governors, regents, and mayors play a key role in driving climate-resilient planning, as he cited key national regulations (Presidential Regulation No. 98 of 2021), and the alignment of subnational efforts with Indonesia’s Long-term National Development Plan (Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Panjang Nasional, RPJPN) 2025-2045.
Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif of Kuala Lumpur, Executive Director of UN-Habitat (2018 – January 2024) urged all levels of government to prioritise forward-looking, inclusive climate strategies. “When the going gets tough, the tough goes local,” she said.
During the introductory session to the UCLG ASPAC City and Local Government (CLG) Institute, Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua, President of UCLG ASPAC and Governor of Quirino Province, Philippines, positioned CLG as an innovation hub for data-driven, evidence-based policymaking. “The CLG Institute is our collective response to the growing demand for evidence-based policymaking. It will serve as an incubator of ideas, a hub of innovation, and a forum for grounded research that connects theory to the pulse of real communities,” he said.
Prof. Bambang Susantono, Special Advisor to UCLG ASPAC, joined the Governor of Jakarta and Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua, President of UCLG ASPAC, for a photo moment during the introduction of the City and Local Government (CLG) Institute.
The opening session also saw several milestones. The Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) badges were awarded to leading Southeast Asian Cities as recognition for their local climate leadership, including Kuala Lumpur, Hang Tuah Jaya, Jakarta Special Capital Region, Pontianak and Segamat district. Furthermore, the Climate Action Plan (CAP) Guideline and 10 CAP reports were launched and symbolically handed over to 10 CRIC pilot city mayors of Bandar Lampung, Banjarmasin, Cirebon, Gorontalo, Kupang, Mataram, Pangkalpinang, Pekanbaru, Samarinda, and Ternate.
Mayors and city representatives from Kuala Lumpur, Hang Tuah Jaya, Pontianak, and Segamat received their GCoM Compliant Badges in recognition of their climate leadership, awarded by Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi and witnessed by key dignitaries, including Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua, EU Ambassador Denis Chaibi, and Director General of Regional Administration Mr. Safrizal ZA of MOHA of Indonesia.
Embracing the notion of collaboration, decentralised cooperation agreements were also signed, including a Letter of Intent between Samarinda and Hefei, as well as the MoUs between UCLG ASPAC and Kuala Lumpur, the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG), and Urbanice Malaysia. Best practices in urban sustainability were also acknowledged, with special recognition given to the Mayor of Hang Tuah Jaya and the Regency Mayor of North Minahasa Regency.
Session Highlights
Session 1 featured Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua once again emphasised that “the future is local,” urging stronger peer-to-peer learning and systems of support to position local governments as not only first responders but also policy innovators to climate risks. Indonesia’s National Planning Agency (Bappenas) representative outlined Indonesia’s climate planning frameworks that support local climate planning, while Mr. Louis Gomez-Echeverri, Research Scholar of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), called attention to data gaps. In this session, Mayor Maimunah Mohd Sharif of Kuala Lumpur urged us to shift our mindsets, treating cities not as problems, but as vital assets to protect with “better data, capacity, and shared accountability.”
Session 2’s main session, moderated by Ms. Norliza Hashim, Chief Executive of Urbanice Malaysia, focused on embedding climate resilience in urban infrastructure through integrated planning, localised finance, and inclusive, tech-enabled approaches. Prof. Bambang Susantono spotlighted Nusantara as a climate-smart city model, while Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director of the National Institute or Urban Affairs (NIUA) India emphasised nature-based solutions and participatory governance. Furthermore. Mr. Diarlison da Costa as Planning Secretariat of the State of Piaul, Brazil, then shared regional strategies from Piaul, while ESCAP’s Mr. Omar Siddique talked about the importance of quantifying adaptation co-benefits to access financing.
From left to right: Mayor of Samarinda, Dr. Andi Harun, Vice Mayor of Banjarmasin Ms. Ananda, and Vice Mayor of Bandar Lampung, Mr. Deddy Amarullah during the CRIC pilot cities’ presentation at Parallel Session 2a.
In Parallel Session 2a, mayors of 10 CRIC pilot cities presented sustainability strategies to carry forward their climate action after the project. From Kupang’s digital waste tracking system to Bandar Lampung’s early warning system, and Samarinda’s baseline-driven waste and sanitation initiatives, pilot cities showcased how climate action plans were integrated into urban services and RPJMDs. Pangkalpinang and Cirebon emphasised cross-sector partnerships, while Pekanbaru and Mataram shared biogas, electric mobility and innovations when it comes to integrated waste management. Finally, Ternate underscored the role of thematic temporary waste sorting sites (TPS), and community awareness as part of its climate approach.
Parallel Session 2b offered Indonesian local leaders a deeper understanding of decentralised city-to-city cooperation and how tools like Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) used to track SDG progress. This session also introduced concrete tools such as CAP monitoring guidance, drafting Letter of Intents (LOIs). Local representatives also shared practical concerns around navigating international cooperation protocols, legal frameworks, and interest in Sister City partnerships.
Session 3, as moderated by Mr. Yanuar Nugroho, Founder and Advisor of Nalar Institute, brought together experts, including Mr. Lorenz Gross from the OECD, Ms. Norliza Hashim from Urbanice Malaysia, Ms. Somsook Boonyabancha from ACHR, Ms. Ria Panjaitan from MOHA Indonesia, and Prof. Youssef Diab from Gustave Eiffel University. Together, they explored the intersection of innovation, multi-level governance, flexible financing, and the role of community-driven planning in building climate resilience. Key takeaways include the importance of aligning planning with funding systems, empowering communities as co-creators of solutions, and fostering trust-based partnerships to scale urban innovation.
The following day, Parallel Session 4a, explored how Indonesian cities can balance urgent climate action with long-term sustainability goals. Mayor Efendi Edo of Cirebon shared the city’s efforts to reduce emissions and called for more stakeholder support. Dr. Wiryono from SPARC Champion of Roof Over Our Head (ROOH) shared participatory housing approaches that involve students and communities, while Ms. Rugun Firni SIpayung, from FSM-Aman, presented a scalable water recycling unit that addresses sanitation and emissions. From Jakarta’s Regional Development Planning Agency, Mr. Andhika Ajie outlined the city’s climate-responsive infrastructure planning amid rapid urban growth, and Dr. Arif Sugiono, representing Banyumas regency’s Environmental Agency, highlighted the regency’s integrated, community-based waste management model, setting the stage for the CRIC pilot cities’ technical visit to the regency.
Finally, for the forum’s final Parallel Session 4b addressed practical tools and regulatory frameworks to enhance Indonesian local governments’ capacity to implement decentralised international cooperation. Mr. Rico Erik Estrada from MOHA Indonesia outlined the multi-agency roles in initiating and formalising sister city partnerships, while Ms. Maharani Putri Samsi Wibowo from Bappenas highlighted the importance of aligning local initiatives with national strategies. From Kuala Lumpur’s Regional Training Centre, Mr. Khairul Azmir invited cities like Ternate to partner on climate resilience training.
Jakarta Greening, and Closing in Banyumas
To conclude the Jakarta segment of the forum, participants joined a tree planting activity at Lapangan Banteng Park, as part of UCLG ASPAC’s Greening Initiative, symbolising a collective environmental stewardship. This was followed by a visit to Tebet Eco Park to view nature-based solutions in action.
On the final day, CRIC pilot city delegates and partner representatives visited Banyumas regency to learn about its integrated, decentralised waste management system. Banyumas proved that with strong local leadership and community involvement, even complex challenges like waste can become powerful entry points for local resilience.
Closing and Way Forward
Ultimately, CRIF 2025 served as a powerful reminder that climate resilience starts locally, through collaboration, innovation, and the sustained leadership of cities and local governments, shaping a better future.
The forum resulted in the adoption of the Jakarta Call for Action, reaffirming collective commitment to inclusive, locally driven climate solutions. It highlights the need for stronger climate finance access, city-to-city cooperation, and integrated planning to ensure long-term resilience and sustainability. Click here to read.
