Youth Climate Action Literacy Event 2024 in Banda Aceh: Promoting Environmental Awareness Through Innovation and Collaboration

BANDA ACEH, October 9, 2024 – Amid global concerns about climate change, the youth of Aceh gathered to participate in the Youth Climate Action Literacy Event 2024, aimed at raising awareness and encouraging tangible actions toward environmental issues. Organized by the BMKG Aceh Climatology Station in collaboration with the Physics Department of FMIPA USK, the event took place at the FMIPA USK Multipurpose Auditorium on October 8-9, 2024.

The opening ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including Dr. Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, the Deputy for Climatology at BMKG and Co-Vice President of SERCOM World Meteorological Organization. In his speech, Dr. Ardhasena emphasized that climate change is a challenge that cannot be ignored and that collaboration between the youth and scientific institutions is essential to address this issue. “We need to educate young people to be agents of change in their communities,” he urged, encouraging participants to actively engage in actions that have a positive impact on the environment.

The event attracted more than 150 participants, including students from various study programs at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) and members of environmental communities. The Vice Rector for Planning, Partnership, and Business at USK, Prof. Dr. Ir. Taufiq S., M.Eng., IPU, also expressed appreciation for this initiative. “Active participation of youth in climate actions is an important step towards a more sustainable future,” he stated, adding that collaboration between educational institutions and the government is crucial for building awareness among young people.

This event not only focused on seminars but also involved real actions. Participants were taught how to sort waste and store waste at the USK Waste Bank. The creation of ecobricks became one of the main activities, highlighting innovation in plastic waste management. This activity teaches participants that plastic waste can be recycled into useful building materials, thereby reducing the volume of waste that ends up in landfills. Additionally, a digital poster design competition on climate action was held, encouraging participants’ creativity in raising awareness of environmental issues.

As part of the event, a cooperation agreement (PKS) and Implementation of Agreement (IA) were signed with the Departments of Physics, Biology, and Chemistry, as well as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with STIK Pante Kulu. This signing demonstrated the commitment of both institutions to collaborate in addressing the increasingly urgent challenges of climate change. Through this collaboration, it is hoped that educational programs and research that support environmental actions in Aceh will be developed.

Participants also had the opportunity to interact directly with experts in the environmental field. A question-and-answer session was held after the seminar, allowing students to delve deeper into relevant environmental issues and potential solutions that can be applied at the local level. This discussion created an interactive atmosphere where new and innovative ideas could emerge, enhancing participant engagement.

As part of the event, the e-Tikbroh.yak application was launched. This application aims to facilitate waste management through proper sorting and integration while providing environmental education to users. With e-Tikbroh.yak, the community can easily manage their waste and contribute to the processing of waste into environmentally friendly products. Through this application, users will receive information on how to sort waste correctly and the locations of waste collectors they can contact. It is hoped that this application will increase awareness of the importance of good waste management and support environmental preservation efforts.

The Youth Climate Action Literacy Event 2024 is not just an event but a movement that emphasizes the importance of awareness and tangible actions toward climate change. By combining technology, education, and community participation, this event has positioned the youth of Aceh at the forefront of efforts to maintain environmental sustainability and drive positive change in their communities. Through active participation in activities like this, it is expected that the youth of Aceh can become pioneers in climate action and contribute significantly to environmental preservation efforts in the future.

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