Growing Need for Sustainability Communication Strategies

JAKARTA, 4 November 2026 — Sustainability communication is increasingly needed to bridge scientific knowledge, policy and public understanding in addressing environmental challenges. Accurate, accessible information is essential to raise public awareness, broaden participation and encourage behavioral change in response to climate change, deforestation, pollution and ecosystem degradation.

The importance of such communication emerged during the Sustainability Communication Expert Dialogue, held at Manggala Wanabakti Building, Ministry of Forestry, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. The forum brought together representatives from government, academia, diplomacy, business and the media, and 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 Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) for the 2022–2026 term; Supriatna, Director of the Graduate School of Sustainable Development at Universitas Indonesia; Jamhari Makruf, Rector of the Indonesian International Islamic University; Agus Justianto, a member of the Advisory Board for Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030; Haryo Damardono, Editor-in-Chief of Kompas daily; and Soegianto Soewandi, a representative of the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI). Perspectives on sustainability communication were also shared through recorded video messages by Indonesia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dwisuryo Indroyono Soesilo, and the Head of the Ministry of Forestry’s Bureau of Public Relations and International Cooperation, Ristianto Pribadi.

Dr. Bambang Soepijanto emphasized that evidence-based communication and active community involvement are essential to the success of forestry policies. He said communication should build a shared understanding of policy objectives, stakeholder responsibilities and the benefits for forest conservation and community welfare. “Communication needs to be present from problem identification, through policy formulation and implementation, to the evaluation of results. In this way, communication also provides a means of listening, receiving feedback and improving policy implementation,” Bambang said at Sustainability Communication Expert Dialogue #1 and the launch of CSCP Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday, 4 November.

Bambang also congratulated the Center for Sustainability Communication and Policy (CSCP) Indonesia on its launch. Managed by the Indonesian Sustainability Communication Association (ASKOMKI), CSCP Indonesia is expected to bring together scientific knowledge, policy and field experience to strengthen collaboration among government, academia, business, the media and communities, including in support of Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030. He stressed the importance of translating dialogue into concrete action with clear objectives and responsibilities. “Follow-up activities could include joint studies, sustainability communication training, the development of public education materials and regular knowledge-sharing forums,” he said.

CSCP Indonesia Chairperson Trisia Megawati Kusuma Dewi said CSCP is a think tank and collaborative platform for sustainability communication managed by the Indonesian Sustainability Communication Association (ASKOMKI). “This institution was established to connect science, policy and society through science-based communication, particularly on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, disaster risk and community resilience,” Trisia Megawati said.

UPNVJ Rector Anter Venus said environmental sustainability is still often seen as an abstract concept that is difficult to relate to people’s everyday lives. “Communication strategies therefore need to take into account social and cultural conditions, as well as people’s level of understanding,” Venus said, citing the example of people who continue to dump waste into rivers. “When telling people not to dump waste into rivers, we need to explain the impacts. Simply putting up prohibition signs is not enough,” he said.

The importance of social and cultural approaches was also highlighted by Jamhari Makruf, Rector of the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII). He said various religions teach the importance of protecting the environment. These values are also embedded in the traditions of Indigenous peoples and local communities, including rules and sanctions for those who damage nature. The challenge is for religious leaders to translate religious teachings and local wisdom into environmental messages and conservation initiatives that reflect community circumstances.

Meanwhile, Agus Justianto, a member of the Advisory Board for Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030, said achieving environmental sustainability in line with the initiative’s targets requires effective communication strategies so that the public can understand and support policies and programs to control emissions from forestry and land use. He said communication should go beyond conveying government targets to explain the benefits and the role communities can play in achieving them. “Consistent implementation of strategies and programs, accompanied by collaboration among government, business, academia, the media and communities, is essential to achieving these goals,” Agus Justianto said.

Supriatna, Director of the Graduate School of Sustainable Development (SPPB) at Universitas Indonesia, said environmental sustainability is closely linked to human behavior in using and managing natural resources. Protecting the environment therefore requires behavioral change supported by shared understanding and awareness. “Communication plays a role in sharing knowledge and building concern, but it needs to be accompanied by leadership by example and concrete action from leaders, government and other stakeholders,” he said.

Soegianto Soewandi of APHI said environmental conservation has evolved from an obligation imposed on businesses by the government into a demand from the public and consumers. This shift requires businesses to take environmentally responsible practices more seriously so that their products gain public acceptance. “In the past, environmental conservation activities were a burden imposed by the government, but now the market itself demands them,” he said. In this context, environmental performance can become a competitive advantage that distinguishes a company from its rivals. These demands also encourage businesses to coordinate and collaborate with various stakeholders, including the media, to build brands around environmentally friendly products.

Kompas daily Editor-in-Chief Haryo Damardono said environmental communication strategies must reach Generation Z, which accounts for a substantial share of Indonesia’s population. Generation Z has distinctive perspectives and lifestyles, alongside relatively high environmental awareness. For example, using reusable tumblers instead of bottled water has become a lifestyle choice rather than an obligation. “Innovative and educational communication strategies are therefore needed to reach Generation Z,” Haryo said.

A Platform for Collaboration

Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Ministry of Forestry’s Bureau of Public Relations and International Cooperation, welcomed CSCP Indonesia as a platform for collaboration to strengthen communication on forestry policies. He expressed hope that the institution would become a strategic partner for the ministry in developing public campaigns grounded in scientific evidence that are easy to understand and relevant to people’s everyday lives. Accurate, open communication that responds to public aspirations is also needed to build trust in government.

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. He said Indonesia’s experience in managing natural resources and protecting biodiversity could provide a foundation for cooperation with the United States in research, education, technology and capacity building. He expressed hope that the dialogue would produce policy recommendations, public education initiatives and concrete international partnerships involving government, academia, business, the media and communities. (**)