Indonesia: Building Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Risks
Building Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Risks: Columbia University and Institut Pertanian Bogor
Much of the population in Indonesia is highly dependent on monsoon rains for livelihoods. In a bad year, over 2 million households, many of which are women-headed, suffer from drought or flood-related disasters. Additionally, uncontrolled fires from degraded peat forests account for a large proportion of Indonesia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with serious local and regional health and economic impacts. The Government of Indonesia has placed a high priority on managing climate risks for sustainable development, and in leveraging universities for applied adaptation research. There is an urgent need to enhance science and technology capacity in Indonesian universities and agencies for adaptation to climate risks.
The Earth Institute is leading a USAID-funded project to collaborate with Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), a leading Indonesian university, to build science and technology capacity for climate risk management in agriculture and peatland forest areas. The Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development and International Research Institute for Climate and Society of the Earth Institute are partnering with the Center for Climate Risk and Opportunity Management for Southeast Asia and Pacific at the IPB on collaborative research in a number of geographic areas. Engaging stakeholders at national, provincial and local levels in the research, the effort also involves faculty exchanges, student internships and training workshops. West Java serves as a focus for research on agricultural adaptation, for the development of a dynamic cropping calendar and index-based agriculture insurance system. In Central Kalimantan research involves forecasting fire severity several months ahead, and the development of an economic incentive system and early response institutional architecture to enable GHG emission reductions from peatland forests.
For more information about CGSD’s work in Indonesia, please contact kbaroang@ei.columbia.edu