Enviro News Asia, Jakarta –Today and in the future, the younger generation will hold a frontline role in saving the Earth from the climate crisis. This is because, demographically, youth make up the majority of the population and have consistently demonstrated strong concern and commitment to addressing climate issues.
“Climate change is not just about rising temperatures or increasingly erratic weather. It’s a major issue that can spark conflict, cause hunger, and even displace millions of people,” said Irawan Asaad, Director of Resource Mobilization at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, during an event held at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) on Monday (June 23, 2025).
The event, organized in commemoration of World Environment Day 2025, carried the theme The Role of Youth in Climate Change Mitigation and Ozone Protection (PLO).
According to Irawan Asaad, climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are not just topics for classroom discussion or viral social media content—they are real crises we are collectively facing.
Therefore, it is only fitting for young people to step into the arena and become the Earth’s heroes of today.
Through this event at JICC, young people are encouraged to become agents of change in confronting the Triple Planetary Crisis—three interconnected global challenges: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
According to data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), around 99% of the global population breathes unhealthy air, greenhouse gas emissions are skyrocketing, and drought could force 700 million people to migrate by 2030. Additionally, about 10 million hectares of forest are lost every year.
This event aims to inspire youth to care and take action—from planting trees and reducing dependence on fossil fuels by using public transportation, to adopting a low-waste lifestyle by applying the 3R principles: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. (*)
