Cross-sector collaboration in environmental conservation efforts in Banten Province needs to be continuously strengthened. The Banten Provincial Environmental and Forestry Agency (DLHK) together with PATTIRO organized a public discussion titled “The Role of Young Generation in Environmental Conservation in Banten” at the Banten Provincial DPRD (Regional People’s Representative Council) Multipurpose Building on Friday (28/11). This activity also served as part of the 2025 Climate Women (PuanKlim) program series, which encourages the active involvement of youth in local climate action.
This public discussion is expected to broaden the understanding of young people regarding the threat of the climate crisis while opening opportunities for concrete action at the local level. DLHK together with PATTIRO affirmed their commitment to continue providing space for dialogue, education, and capacity building for Banten youth in facing future environmental challenges.
In his presentation, Ruli Riatno, Head of the Waste Management Division at the Banten Provincial DLHK, asserted that Banten Province cannot avoid the impact of the Triple Planetary Crisis, namely climate change, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. Currently, this has also become a major issue in various countries.
“Climate change is real and we are already feeling it. Extreme weather, unpredictable seasons, and the threat of a water crisis are signs that we can no longer ignore,” he stated.
Ruli also highlighted the crucial position of the younger generation, who will be both the most impacted group and the determinant of the Earth’s sustainability. According to him, young people are witnesses and inheritors of the earth, making their involvement in protecting the planet urgent. Young people can play a role in various adaptation and mitigation steps, such as waste management, water conservation, low-emission agriculture, and active involvement in the Climate Village Program (ProKlim).
Meanwhile, Fabya Luthfiana, Program Officer at PATTIRO, highlighted the challenge of access to information and funding which still limits the mobility of youth communities in climate action. “Many youth communities have big ideas, but they don’t yet know that environmental funding is available and accessible,” she explained.
In her presentation, Fabya also introduced the BPDLH Small Grants scheme that can be utilized by student groups, environmental communities, and river conservation organizations to initiate green programs in their communities. She also emphasized the importance of using this opportunity to strengthen environmental action in Banten.
Furthermore, Fabya detailed the multi-stakeholder collaboration in the 2025 Indonesian Tree Planting Day (HMPI), including cooperation between PATTIRO, the Banten Provincial Government, local industry, communities, and other stakeholders in the reclamation of critical former mining land—a government-NGO-industry collaboration model that shows environmental action is much stronger when executed together.
The discussion moderator, Siti Aisyah, underlined the role of youth as the engine of change. She emphasized that the younger generation has a unique ability to innovate and move quickly, both in the digital space and at the grassroots level.
Fitria Muslih, Executive Director of PATTIRO, highlighted the importance of expanding the space for cross-sector collaboration. For her, the climate crisis is a shared problem. Therefore, the solutions presented must also be built together. “We believe young people in Banten have great potential to be pioneers of inclusive and sustainable environmental movements. Collaboration between the government, communities, and civil society organizations is the key to accelerating change,” Fitria asserted.
