Imagine a group of students and lectures from Western Sydney University (WSU) traveling all the way to Yogyakarta, not just to learn, but also to be amazed by the green spirit of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). The vibrant atmosphere of Yogyakarta in the second week of the two-week program titled "(Poly)Crisis, Cross-Cultural Responses & Resilience," exploring the theme of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: disaster mitigation and climate change, not only broadened perspectives but also presented real inspiration. And UNY had a story that left WSU in awe with their concrete actions.
The classroom session on climate change, guided by Dr. Pujianto, S.Pd., M.Pd. and Dr. Okky Indera Pamungkas, S.Pd., M.Or., became a major highlight. Participants from WSU were introduced to UNY's innovative approaches in addressing the climate crisis, from local strategies to global collaborations. "I really liked how UNY packages climate change issues in such an accessible yet impactful way, thank you, we all see this problem from a new perspective," expressed one WSU delegate. The discussion examined how education can serve as a bridge to build awareness and tangible action against the impacts of climate change.
Furthermore, UNY also showcased concrete actions through a tree planting program in collaboration with the Sumatran Elephant Foundation. This initiative demonstrated UNY's commitment to maintaining ecological balance from land to air amidst campus development. Upon learning this information, WSU representatives couldn't stop praising this approach. "Wow, you've planted so many trees, UNY is a real example of how educational institutions can lead the fight against climate change for the transformation of our planet," said a WSU representative, full of admiration.
The disaster mitigation session was equally captivating and garnered attention. UNY shared stories about its collaboration with other universities to develop disaster response strategies, described as a "new page" in education especially university. Yogyakarta, although known as an area prone to disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, UNY emphasized that Jogja is not merely a "disaster pool" instead, this pattern is being changed as UNY and local communities are demonstrating transformation into centers of resilience and innovation.
The classroom discussion sessions opened new insights for participants not only from WSU but also for those from UNY. They all learned how cross-cultural collaboration and local community involvement can strengthen efforts against the climate crisis. The atmosphere became more vibrant with stories about how small steps can bring such great impact, "We learned that Yogyakarta is not just about facing disasters, but about creating solutions for the future and certainly about rising stronger," said one WSU delegate.
Climate change education at UNY opened not only eyes but also hearts. Dr. Okky Indera Pamungkas, S.Pd., M.Or. emphasized that from classrooms filled with broad thinking to presentations on tree planting actions, the goal is to invite everyone to act with awareness and responsibility, "Every tree we plant is a small step toward a better earth," said Dr. Okky with a smile. This collaboration between UNY and WSU proves that with knowledge and action, we can fight climate change by demonstrating together that one small step, one idea, one collaboration, we can go far toward a better and more resilient earth. A WSU professor added, "This is not the end, but the beginning of many great things."
