Banda Aceh, October 10, 2024 – Amid global concerns about climate change, Aceh’s youth gathered to participate in the 2024 Climate Action Literacy for Youth event, which aims to raise awareness and encourage concrete action on environmental issues. The event, organized by the BMKG Aceh Climatology Station in collaboration with the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of the University of Syiah Kuala (USK), took place at the FMIPA USK Multipurpose Auditorium on October 8-9, 2024.
The opening ceremony was attended by several key figures, including Dr. Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, Deputy Director of Climatology at BMKG and Vice President of SERCOM at the World Meteorological Organization. In his speech, Dr. Ardhasena emphasized that climate change is a challenge that cannot be ignored and that collaboration between the younger generation and scientific institutions is crucial to addressing this issue. “We need to educate the younger generation to become agents of change in their communities,” he said, urging participants to actively engage in actions that have a positive impact on the environment.
The event was attended by more than 150 participants, including students from various academic programs at Syiah Kuala University (USK) and members of the environmental community. The Vice Rector for Planning, Partnerships, and Business at USK, Prof. Dr. Ir. Taufiq S., M.Eng., IPU, also expressed his appreciation for this initiative. “The active participation of the younger generation in climate action is a crucial step toward a more sustainable future,” he said, adding that collaboration between educational institutions and the government is vital for raising awareness among the younger generation.
The event focused not only on seminars but also on concrete actions. Participants were taught how to sort waste and deposit it at the USK Waste Bank. Making ecobricks was one of the main activities highlighting innovation in plastic waste management. This activity taught participants that plastic waste can be recycled into useful building materials, thereby reducing the volume of waste ending up in landfills. Additionally, a digital poster design competition on climate action was held, encouraging participants’ creativity to raise awareness about environmental issues.
As part of the event, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) and an Implementation Agreement (IA) were signed with the Department of Physics, Biology, and Chemistry, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with STIK Pante Kulu. These signings demonstrate both institutions’ commitment to collaborating to address the increasingly urgent challenges of climate change. Through this collaboration, it is hoped that educational and research programs supporting environmental action in Aceh will continue to grow.
Participants also had the opportunity to interact directly with experts in the environmental field. A Q&A session was held after the seminar, allowing students to delve deeper into relevant environmental issues and solutions that can be implemented at the local level. This discussion fostered an interactive atmosphere in which new and innovative ideas could emerge, thereby enhancing participant engagement.
As part of the event, the e-Tikbroh.yak app was also launched. This app aims to facilitate waste management through proper sorting and integration, while also providing environmental education to its users. With e-Tikbroh.yak, the public can easily manage their waste and contribute to the processing of waste into eco-friendly products. Through this app, users will receive information on how to sort waste correctly and the locations of waste collection points they can contact. It is hoped that this app will raise awareness about the importance of proper waste management and support environmental conservation efforts.
The 2024 Climate Action Literacy for Youth event is not just an event, but a movement that emphasizes the importance of awareness and concrete action regarding climate change. By combining technology, education, and community participation, this event places Aceh’s youth at the forefront of efforts to maintain environmental sustainability and drive positive change in their communities. Through active participation in activities like this, it is hoped that Aceh’s youth can become pioneers in climate action and make significant contributions to future environmental conservation efforts.