Jakarta – Acting Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, issued a serious warning regarding the increasingly real threat of climate change. During the Climate Action Festival and Applied Climate Workshop, which is part of the 7th Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Day Commemoration series, Dwikorita emphasized that Indonesia has the potential to experience a temperature rise of up to 3.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times in 2100, if climate change mitigation efforts are not taken immediately.
This warning is not just a prediction but a real threat that will have a wide impact, especially on the younger generation. Dwikorita revealed that the young generation, especially Generation Z and Alpha, will be the group most affected by climate change. Therefore, she called for the importance of the younger generation’s active role in taking concrete steps to reduce the impact of climate change.
“We cannot ignore the fact that Generation Z and Alpha will be the main witnesses of the impacts of climate change. They will live with the consequences. Therefore, it is time for all of us, especially young people, to move and collaborate in restraining the rate of climate change,” Dwikorita said.
Furthermore, Dwikorita explained that climate change is not an issue that can be ignored or underestimated. Data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shows that 2023 is the hottest year in history, with global temperature anomalies reaching 1.45 degrees Celsius above the average temperature of pre-industrial times. This is close to the 1.5 degree Celsius limit agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement as a safe threshold to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.
“If we do not act immediately, temperatures in Indonesia could soar to 3.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. This is a serious threat that will increase the frequency of hydrometeorological disasters and potentially cause water scarcity and food crises,” Dwikorita said, quoting the latest report from the BMKG website.
Meanwhile, BMKG Deputy for Climatology Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan stated that climate change will continue for decades to come if mitigation measures are not taken immediately. According to Ardhasena, the biggest challenge now is to increase public awareness and understanding, especially among the younger generation, of the importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
“Climate change mitigation and adaptation is not only the government’s responsibility but also of all levels of society. We must all move together to achieve the Paris Agreement targets and ensure global temperatures do not increase by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is the only way to protect our future,” Ardhasena concluded. (Hartatik)
