Depok, April 22, 2025 – In commemoration of Earth Day 2025, the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at the University of Indonesia (FIA UI), in collaboration with the Habibie Institute for Public Policy and Governance (HIPPG), held a seminar entitled “The Urgency of Saving the Earth Through the Development of Healthy, Resilient, and Productive Cities.”

The seminar brought together speakers from a variety of expert backgrounds, including Dr. Rasio Ridho Sani, M.Com., MPM., Deputy for Environmental Control at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry; Ririn Radiawati Kusuma, Director of Clean Air Asia Indonesia; and Prof. Teguh Kurniawan, S.Sos., M.Sc., Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs at FIA UI. The session was moderated by Krisna Puji Rahmayanti, S.I.A., M.P.A., Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration at FIA UI.

The event began with opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Dra. Retno Kusumastuti Hardjono, M.Si. The seminar aimed to raise awareness and understanding among the younger generation, particularly university students, about the importance of sustainable urban development in responding to the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation.

In his presentation, Dr. Rasio emphasized that the environmental crisis not only causes pollution of water, air, and soil but also poses a significant threat to global human survival.

“As we experienced recently, climate change triggered severe flooding in the Greater Jakarta area, with broad social and economic impacts. This calls for the active involvement of all stakeholders in addressing the issue holistically and sustainably—through urban planning, regional development strategies, and sound public policies,” he stated.

He also pointed out that environmental degradation is not only the result of natural disasters but is also worsened by global conflicts such as the war between Israel and Palestine, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which contribute to soil and air pollution.

Meanwhile, Prof. Teguh Kurniawan, M.Sc., in his presentation, highlighted the role of cities in saving the planet, noting that the majority of the population now lives in urban areas, which are responsible for approximately 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.

“We must focus on several key pillars to develop healthy, resilient, and productive cities. These include urban resilience, sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation, community engagement, and the promotion of public health and well-being,” Prof. Teguh explained.

As part of the event, a tree-planting activity was also held at FIA UI’s new building, symbolizing a commitment to environmental conservation in celebration of Earth Day 2025.

The event was attended by over 100 students and also featured the participation of the Head of the Dean Office at FIA UI, Dr. Umanto, M.Si., and Dr. drg. Widya Leksmanawati Habibie, Executive Director of the Habibie Institute for Public Policy and Governance.