Enviro News Asia, Surabaya — Indonesia’s independence must extend beyond political and economic sovereignty to include ecological sovereignty, Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) Moh Jumhur Hidayat said during a public lecture at Airlangga University (Unair) in Surabaya.
Speaking before thousands of academics during the university’s inauguration of new doctoral, master’s, subspecialty, specialty and professional students, Jumhur highlighted the growing complexity of environmental challenges amid rapid technological development, including artificial intelligence.
Climate change, air pollution, water crises, ecosystem degradation, waste management and forest degradation are increasingly interconnected with the quality of human life, he said.
“Environmental protection is not a stand-alone sector. It is the foundation of life and every sector of development,” Jumhur said.
He urged universities and researchers to ensure that scientific knowledge remains closely connected to real-world challenges. Professionals across disciplines, including medicine, economics, law, engineering and social sciences, should develop an ecological perspective that recognizes humans as part of an interconnected life system rather than as the sole controllers of nature.
According to Jumhur, scientists must not only uphold academic standards but also demonstrate the moral responsibility to ensure that policies benefit society while safeguarding the environment.
He also rejected the longstanding notion that economic growth and environmental protection must be pursued at the expense of one another. Indonesia, he said, should develop an economic model in which growth is driven by environmental protection through the principles of a green and circular economy.
Under this approach, waste should be treated as a resource rather than merely a problem, while opportunities for green jobs can be expanded across various disciplines.
“We must build an economy that grows because the environment is protected. This is the spirit of the green and circular economy,” Jumhur said.
The minister further emphasized that climate change represents a major test of leadership, requiring stronger mitigation and adaptation efforts supported by research, innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Concluding his lecture, Jumhur encouraged postgraduate students and professionals at Unair to look beyond academic degrees and dedicate their knowledge to developing practical solutions for Indonesia while protecting the planet for future generations.
Ahead of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Anniversary, he called on young intellectuals to redefine the meaning of independence by advancing ecological sovereignty, enabling Indonesia to independently protect and manage its environment.
KLH/BPLH reaffirmed that national development must pursue economic progress while ensuring environmental sustainability and long-term responsibility for the country’s natural resources and ecosystems. (*)
