Generation Z (Gen Z) is urgently advocating for sincere, meaningful, and strategic involvement in discussions surrounding the climate crisis. The genuine engagement of young people is deemed absolutely crucial, as they are the ones who will bear the long-term consequences of escalating environmental challenges.
Beyond mere participation, Gen Z is also demanding a fundamental redistribution of power and access, coupled with official government recognition of the collective capacity of youth – a capacity they feel has historically been overlooked. These critical points were raised by Gen Z representatives during the KBR Public Forum discussion, aptly titled “Gen Z Demands Climate Responsibility,” held virtually on November 5, 2025. This online discussion formed an integral part of the Bi-Weekly Nexus of Three Planetary Crises series, an initiative spearheaded by the Justice Coalition for Our Planet (JustCOP).
“Young people possess the authority to shape climate-related policies,” asserted Dinah Rida from KATA Indonesia, who represented urban Gen Z voices. She critically observed that the redistribution of power and access currently lacks sufficient accountability. This deficit in accountability, she noted, often leaves young people uninformed about the various funding mechanisms available for addressing the climate crisis.
Furthermore, Dinah highlighted a concerning tendency by the government to generalize the impacts of the climate crisis across all young people. This approach, she argued, inevitably leads to the formulation of ineffective and non-concrete solutions, particularly in the areas most severely affected. “The challenges faced by young people in urban areas are distinct from those experienced by their peers living in remote regions,” she explained, emphasizing the need for nuanced and localized approaches.
Youth in Remote Areas Marginalized
Echoing the sentiment for tailored solutions and deeper engagement, Elsy Grasia from Yayasan Pikul underscored how young people in remote areas are frequently marginalized from critical decision-making processes related to the climate crisis. This exclusion, she pointed out, further silences the voices of youth in regions already grappling with limited access to information.
Elsy recounted the enduring impacts of Cyclone Seroja, which devastated large parts of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) in April 2021. This powerful cyclone, with wind speeds reaching 100 km per hour, triggered flash floods across several small islands in NTT, including Rote, Sabu, and Lembata. The repercussions were profound, affecting a multitude of local plants that serve as vital sources of food, cultural heritage, and traditional wisdom. For instance, in Kodi, Sumba Island, indigenous plants traditionally used in constructing customary houses and identified by local names suffered significant damage. “If these patterns persist, the diminishing availability of these resources could lead future generations to forget their language and local wisdom,” Elsy warned.
Similarly, on Timor Island, home to Kupang, many young farmers and fishermen endured devastating losses to their livelihoods. This displacement forced them to seek alternative employment, often without adequate skills or preparation. Elsy argued that such conditions only exacerbate existing inequalities and deepen structural poverty across NTT. Compounding this challenge, government policies have, at times, approved large-scale projects that infringe upon residents’ living spaces. She cited several instances of such encroachment in NTT, including the contentious expansion of a geothermal project in Poco Leok, Flores Island.
Local communities have vehemently rejected the Poco Leok project, perceiving it as lacking transparency and directly threatening their fundamental sources of livelihood. “The government must re-evaluate large-scale projects like the one in Poco Leok and it is high time they genuinely engage in dialogue with young people and other vulnerable local groups,” Elsy urged. To truly address these deep-seated issues, Elsy emphasized the critical need for the government to sincerely listen to and involve all vulnerable communities, reaching even the most remote villages, in the crafting of sustainable solutions and policies.
Summary
Generation Z (Gen Z) mendesak keterlibatan yang tulus, bermakna, dan strategis dalam diskusi krisis iklim, serta menuntut redistribusi kekuasaan dan akses, didukung pengakuan resmi pemerintah atas kapasitas kaum muda. Dalam Forum Publik KBR, perwakilan Gen Z menyoroti kurangnya akuntabilitas dalam distribusi kekuasaan yang membuat kaum muda kurang informasi tentang mekanisme pendanaan iklim. Mereka juga mengkritik kecenderungan pemerintah untuk menggeneralisasi dampak krisis iklim, yang menghasilkan solusi tidak efektif dan non-konkret, menyerukan pendekatan yang lebih nuansa dan terlokalisasi.
Selain itu, kaum muda di daerah terpencil sering terpinggirkan dari proses pengambilan keputusan penting dan memiliki akses informasi yang terbatas. Dampak Siklon Seroja di NTT, misalnya, menunjukkan kehancuran mata pencarian, tanaman lokal, dan warisan budaya, yang berisiko melenyapkan kearifan lokal. Oleh karena itu, Gen Z mendesak pemerintah untuk mengevaluasi kembali proyek-proyek skala besar yang melanggar ruang hidup masyarakat, seperti proyek panas bumi Poco Leok, dan sungguh-sungguh melibatkan semua komunitas rentan, termasuk di desa-desa terpencil, dalam merumuskan kebijakan yang berkelanjutan.
