Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Sustainability communication is becoming increasingly important in bridging scientific knowledge, policymaking, and public understanding of environmental challenges. Accurate and accessible information is essential to raising public awareness, expanding participation, and encouraging behavioral change in addressing climate change, deforestation, pollution, and ecosystem degradation.
The issue was highlighted at the Sustainability Communication Expert Dialogue held at the Manggala Wanabakti Building, Ministry of Forestry, in Jakarta on Wednesday (November 4, 2026). The forum, which brought together government officials, academics, diplomats, business representatives, and media professionals, also marked the launch of the Center for Sustainability Communication and Policy (CSCP) Indonesia.
Among those attending were Senior Adviser to the Minister of Forestry Bambang Soepijanto; Anter Venus, Rector of the Jakarta Veterans National Development University (UPNVJ) for the 2022–2026 period; Supriatna, Director of the Graduate School of Sustainable Development at the University of Indonesia; Jamhari Makruf, Rector of the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII); Agus Justianto, member of the Advisory Council of Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030; Haryo Dhamardono, Editor-in-Chief of Kompas daily; and Soegijanto Soewandi, representing the Indonesian Forestry Entrepreneurs Association (APHI). Views on sustainability communication were also delivered through video messages by Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, and Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry.
Bambang Soepijanto stressed that evidence-based communication and active community involvement are essential to the success of forestry policies. He said communication must foster a shared understanding of policy objectives, the responsibilities of different stakeholders, and the benefits of those policies for forest conservation and community welfare.
“Communication needs to be present from the moment an issue is identified and a policy is formulated, throughout its implementation, and until its results are evaluated. In this way, communication also serves as a means of listening, receiving feedback, and improving policy implementation,” Bambang said at the first Sustainability Communication Expert Dialogue and the launch of CSCP Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday (November 4).
Bambang also congratulated the Indonesian Sustainability Communication and Policy Association (ASKOMKI) on the launch of CSCP Indonesia, which is managed by the association. He expressed hope that the center would serve as a platform connecting scientific knowledge, policy, and field experience to strengthen collaboration among the government, academia, businesses, media, and communities, including in support of Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target.
He emphasized the importance of turning dialogue into concrete action, supported by clear objectives and a well-defined division of responsibilities.
“Follow-up initiatives could include joint studies, sustainability communication training, the development of public education materials, and regular knowledge-sharing forums,” he said.
CSCP Indonesia Chair Trisia Megawati Kusuma Dewi said the center serves as a think tank and collaborative platform for sustainability communication under ASKOMKI.
“The institution was established to bridge scientific knowledge, policy, and society through science-based communication, particularly on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, disaster risks, and community resilience,” Trisia said.
UPNVJ Rector Anter Venus said efforts to create a sustainable environment are still often perceived as abstract concepts that are difficult to relate to people’s everyday lives.
“Therefore, communication strategies need to take into account the social and cultural conditions of communities, as well as their levels of understanding,” Venus said, citing the example of people who continue to dispose of waste in rivers.
“People need to understand the consequences of throwing rubbish into rivers. Simply putting up prohibition signs is not enough,” he said.
The importance of social and cultural approaches was also highlighted by UIII Rector Jamhari Makruf. He said various religions teach the importance of protecting the environment. These values are also reflected in the traditions of Indigenous peoples and local communities, including through customary rules and sanctions against those who damage nature.
The challenge, he said, is to encourage religious leaders to translate religious teachings and local wisdom into environmental conservation messages and initiatives that are relevant to the conditions of their communities.
Meanwhile, Agus Justianto, a member of the Advisory Council of Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030, said achieving environmental sustainability in line with the national target requires effective communication strategies to ensure that policies and programs to control emissions from the forestry and land-use sectors are understood and supported by the public.
Communication, he said, should go beyond conveying government targets and explain the benefits of these efforts and the role communities can play in achieving them.
“Consistency in implementing strategies and programs, accompanied by collaboration among the government, businesses, academia, media, and communities, is essential to achieving these goals,” Agus said.
Supriatna, Director of the Graduate School of Sustainable Development at the University of Indonesia, said environmental sustainability is closely linked to human behavior in using and managing natural resources. Protecting the environment therefore requires behavioral changes supported by shared understanding and awareness.
“Communication plays a role in conveying knowledge and building concern, but it must be accompanied by good examples and concrete actions from leaders, the government, and stakeholders,” he said.
Soegijanto Soewandi of APHI said environmental conservation is no longer merely an obligation imposed by the government on businesses. It has become a public demand and, increasingly, a requirement from consumers.
This shift, he said, requires businesses to take environmentally responsible practices more seriously to ensure their products are accepted by the market.
“In the past, environmental conservation activities were largely obligations imposed by the government. Today, the market itself is demanding them,” he said.
In this context, environmental responsibility can become a competitive advantage that distinguishes one company from its rivals. At the same time, these demands encourage businesses to coordinate and collaborate with various stakeholders, including the media, to build strong brands for environmentally friendly products.
Kompas Editor-in-Chief Haryo Dhamardono said environmental communication strategies must be able to reach Generation Z, which represents a significant segment of Indonesia’s population.
He noted that Generation Z has its own mindset and lifestyle, along with considerable environmental awareness. The use of reusable tumblers, for example, as an alternative to bottled water is no longer seen merely as an obligation but has become part of their lifestyle.
“Therefore, innovative and educational communication strategies are needed to reach Generation Z,” Haryo said.
A Platform for Collaboration
Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, welcomed the establishment of CSCP Indonesia as a collaborative platform to strengthen forestry policy communication.
He expressed hope that the institution would become a strategic partner for the ministry in developing evidence-based public campaigns that are easy to understand and relevant to people’s everyday lives. Accurate, transparent, and responsive communication that takes public aspirations into account is also necessary to build public trust in the government.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, said science-based sustainability communication is important for strengthening international partners’ understanding of and confidence in Indonesia’s development policies and practices.
Indonesia’s experience in managing natural resources and protecting biodiversity, he said, could provide a foundation for expanding cooperation with the United States in research, education, technology, and capacity building.
He expressed hope that the dialogue would produce concrete policy recommendations, public education initiatives, and international partnerships involving the government, academia, businesses, media, and communities. (*)
