Pontianak Youth Demand Real Climate Action Now!

The Green Youth Hub (GYH) Activation Workshop successfully mobilized 21 young leaders in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on June 28, 2025, at Harris Hotel Pontianak. Organized by the ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF) and Penabulu, the goal was to establish a network of key influencers promoting a just and inclusive green transition across Indonesia.

Our sessions exposed the brutal truth of local environmental degradation. Highlighted the severe plastic pollution contaminating the Kapuas River, largely fueled by youth “hanging out” culture. Worse, rapid urbanization, illustrated by the bitter phrase “1,000 drains become 1,000 coffee shops,” is accelerating floods and destroying green spaces.

Speakers like Fahmi (Keep Earth Borneo) championed social media advocacy against threats like palm oil expansion, while Dedi Firmansyah (Youth Aktual) emphasized mangrove conservation as a vital local defense.

“This discussion space provides a safe space for young people to voice their concerns about environmental issues in Pontianak.”
Fahmi – Speaker

The collective Joint Statement demands systemic change: the government must urgently strengthen policy against plastic pollution through producer-level regulation. Furthermore, institutions must improve “meaningful youth engagement” in policy-making, and financial capacity building is crucial to sustain community efforts against West Kalimantan’s systemic crises. This hub outside Java is now a critical platform for ensuring our local struggles become national priorities.

I feel happy and I have gained a lot of new insights from this program, for example, knowledge about the environment.

Juna’iya – Participant