On April 21 – 29 2024, a series of events were held in Indonesia as part of the Joint Teaching Research Course Project “Climate Change and Planning: Critical Pedagogies from Coastal/Delta Cities of Asias”. This project is a collaborative effort between theGlobal Center of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability (GCSMUS) – TU Berlin, Diponegoro University (UNDIP) and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IITKGP). It includes both classroom lectures and field trips to various coastal areas on the northern coast of Java Island. The aim of this project is to understand the phenomenon of climate change in a transdisciplinary manner, integrating perspectives from the humanities and social sciences and urban planning. The research project addresses intersecting SDG 11 targets, directly (11.3 – Inclusive Urbanization and Participatory, Integrated Planning; 11.5 – Resilience to Disasters; 11.6 – Reduced Environmental Impact of Cities) and indirectly (11.4 – Cultural and Natural Heritage; 11.A – Rural Urban Linkages; 11.B – Comprehensive Disaster Risk Managements).
Dr. Jenia Mukherjee and Shreyashi Bhattacharya were representatives from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur – India who attended Diponegoro University. Dr. Jenia and Shreyashi gave lectures for the elective courses Community-based Urban and Rural Resilience (Community-Based Urban and Rural Resilience) – IUP (S1) class and Climate Change and Planning (Climate Change and Planning) – URP (S2) class.
Apart from classroom lectures, there are also field trips to several villages in Pekalongan Regency (Api-api, Wonokerto Kulon, Semut), Muara Angke Fisherman’s Village in DKI Jakarta, and Bengawan Solo Estuary in Gresik Regency. The purpose of these trips is to observe real-life examples of collaborative knowledge creation (knowledge co-production), as well as the effects of environmental change trends and community initiatives in both spatial and temporal contexts.
During a field visit to Pekalongan, students were given the opportunity to see the outcomes of knowledge co-production to deal with climate change in the form of a PEGAR (Low Threshold Breakwater) in Api-api Village. They also engaged in discourse with various stakeholders, including representatives from Mercy Corps Indonesia (NGO), the BUMDes Mitra Mina (Village-Owned Enterprise), the head of Api-api Village, and the chair of the Kelompok Tani Alam Lestari (Farmers Group). Later, the students were taken to see houses that had been submerged due to the effects of climate change in Semut and Wonokerto Kulon villages.
During the field trip to Muara Angke Fisherman’s Village in DKI Jakarta, conversations were held with several pengurus RW (neighborhood administrative board). Additionally, the group visited the green mussel processing area, gaining a deeper understanding of the local aquaculture practices and their economic significance. They also observed the floating houses built by the Ministry of Defence, which showcased innovative housing solutions for the area’s unique environmental conditions.
In contrast, the visit to Ujungpangkah District in Gresik Regency had a different focus. The primary objective was to witness the nature-based adaptation efforts being implemented through the extensive mangrove forests along the Bengawan Solo Estuary. This visit highlighted the critical role of mangroves in protecting the estuary areas, as well as their importance in supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods. The field trip provided a comprehensive view of both community-based and nature-based approaches to sustainability and resilience in coastal regions.
