Lucia Athens commenced her presentation by highlighting the pivotal role of cities in the United States in leading efforts to address climate change. Over 750 cities across 48 states in the United States actively support federal policies aimed at reducing emissions and combating climate change.

The conversation extended beyond the United States to encompass Jakarta's contribution as a member of C40 Global Cities, a global network uniting mayors from leading cities worldwide to tackle the climate crisis.

"Jakarta has been active in promoting initiatives such as green buildings, cooling roofs, and other green efforts," Lucia Athens mentioned.

Delving into the concept of sustainability with three main pillars—environment, economy, and society—Lucia emphasized the government's pivotal role in change management. This involves removing barriers, providing incentives, and creating mandates to support sustainable development.

The discussion covered the adoption of innovation and environmental assessment tools like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), offering participants insights into considering benefits and costs in sustainable development planning.

The session also highlighted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and how LEED for cities and communities can aid cities in achieving these goals.

The relevance of the talk in the Indonesian context was evident in discussions on "Nusantara" concepts such as sponge cities, forest cities, and smart cities. Sustainable development components, including green buildings, clean utilities and transportation, natural infrastructure, and cultural and economic assets, were emphasized. Real-world examples, such as the LEED Platinum-certified Seattle Justice Center and Austin Central Library, inspired participants to implement sustainability principles.

The sharing session aimed to deepen understanding of climate planning, sustainable development, and actionable steps in addressing climate change. The event is expected to serve as a source of inspiration, encouraging positive efforts to address climate change and foster the development of more sustainable cities in the future.

Reporter:  Hafsah Restu Nurul Annafi (Urban and Regional Planning, 2019)

Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2021)

Editor: Vera Citra Utami