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On the second day, Tuesday (20/5/2025), a talk show session featured Prof. Indratmo, M.Sc., Ph.D. from ITB’s Center for Water Resources Development, who presented on the topic of “Establish a Global Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience”.

He expressed that Indonesia has recently experienced many hydrometeorological disasters, including a major flood in Dayeuhkolot, Bandung Regency, on May 17th, 2025.

In response, the Indonesian government has committed to achieving water resilience, with key initiatives including: 1) Vision 2045, Achieving Water Security; 2) Establishment of a Global Center of Excellence on Water and Climate; 3) Climate Resilience Development Policy (2020–2045); 4) Strengthening Rural Water Supply Systems; 5) Revitalization of Critical Water Infrastructure; 6) Advanced Climate: Resilient Urban Sanitation.

Indonesia’s mitigation policies and strategies originate from the Paris Agreement, followed by the Indonesia Net Zero Emissions 2060 goal, and are integrated into the country’s long-term development plan.

According to Prof. Indratmo, it is essential to establish a Global Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience. “Such a center is needed as a strategic platform to integrate science, policies, innovation, and collaboration to ensure climate-resilient water systems that support sustainable development,” he said.

He also emphasized the need for an Urban Water and Climate Resilience Center in the City of Bandung. One related initiative is the Citarum Harum program. “Although Citarum Harum primarily focuses on river rehabilitation and waste management, it can be seen as a positive response to climate change,” he noted.

He also mentioned ITB’s contributions toward strengthening water and climate resilience through innovations, research, and community service efforts carried out by various centers at ITB, including Center of Infrastructures and Built Environment (CIBE) ITB, Center for Climate Change (CCC-ITB), Center for Water Resources Development ITB, Center for Remote Sensing ITB, and Research Center of New and Renewable Energy (PPEBT-ITB). “ITB has around 100 research centers, and about 40% of them focus on energy, climate change, and related areas,” he said.

In addition, Prof. Indratmo introduced one of Indonesia’s national-level resilience centers, the Peatland and Mangrove Rehabilitation Agency, which has significantly rehabilitated the peatland and mangrove ecosystem and reduced fire hotspots in recent years. “The number of hotspots dropped drastically from 137 in 2020 to just 17 in 2021,” he explained.

He emphasized the importance of peatland ecosystems in storing carbon and water, especially given that Indonesia has the largest tropical peat forest ecosystem in the world. “Peatlands can store a large amount of carbon, and they hold more water than reservoirs,” he said.

Reporter: Ahmad Fauzi (Agricultural Engineering, 2021)

Translator: Nadya Fini Nabila (Management, 2023)