27 November 2024
Threesna Sharfina
Medan, (February 26, 2024) — Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) is reinforcing its commitment to climate action by placing education and public awareness at the centre of its sustainability agenda. As part of its pledge to support Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action), the university provides education programmes and public campaigns on climate risks, impacts, mitigation, and adaptation, targeting both its internal academic community and wider society. Through lectures, seminars, and outreach activities, USU promotes climate literacy as a foundation for stronger community resilience and informed decision-making.
One of the flagship examples in 2024 was a public lecture titled “Potensi Biomassa Sumber Energi Alternatif dalam Rangka Upaya Mitigasi Perubahan Iklim” (Biomass Potential as an Alternative Energy Source in Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change), held at the Faculty of Engineering and attended by more than 200 participants, including lecturers, students, and staff. The event introduced participants to the concept of biomass as an alternative energy source and explored its role in climate-change mitigation and circular economy systems. A central feature of the lecture was training on the TOSS method (Tempat Olah Sampah di Sumbernya), a locally applied approach that converts organic waste at its source into renewable energy. Through practical demonstrations and discussion of real cases, participants learned how sustainable biomass practices and waste-to-energy solutions can simultaneously reduce emissions, manage waste more effectively, and support local energy needs.
Beyond individual events, USU uses these programmes to foster deeper climate literacy and encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue. Lectures and seminars are designed not only as one-off sessions, but as catalysts for integrating sustainability into coursework, research topics, and student activities across faculties. By engaging students and academics in interactive discussions, USU underscores the importance of science-based approaches to understanding climate risks and designing mitigation and adaptation strategies. Rector Professor Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., emphasised that building climate resilience begins with education and awareness, noting that initiatives which combine research, local innovation, and community engagement ensure that sustainability becomes part of both learning and daily practice.
USU’s commitment extends into its community service and research activities, where environmental and climate education are embedded in Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat programmes and applied studies. These initiatives integrate environmental risk communication, forest and ecosystem resilience, and disaster adaptation into training sessions for local communities, schools, and government partners. Activities range from strengthening understanding of land degradation and flood risk to developing practical adaptation options tailored to local conditions. By doing so, USU helps equip communities with knowledge and tools to anticipate climate impacts and take collective action, rather than responding only after disasters occur.
Through this continuous cycle of outreach, education, and applied research, Universitas Sumatera Utara demonstrates a clear institutional alignment with SDG 13 and its wider sustainability framework, including Rector’s Regulation No. 3 of 2019 on the Implementation of the Green Campus Movement and Circular Letter No. 1 of 2023 on Environmental Management and the Commitment to Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2029. By treating climate education as both an academic responsibility and a public service, USU is shaping an informed generation capable of responding to environmental challenges and contributing to Indonesia’s transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.
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