Focusing on Sustainability, UMN Hosts the UI GreenMetric National Workshop 2022 

Multimedia Nusantara University hosts the UI GreenMetric 2022 National Workshop 2022. (Doc. UMN)

TANGERANG – Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN) hosts the UI GreenMetric 2022 National Workshop 2022 for two days: Tuesday, the 30th of August, and Wednesday, the 31st of August 2022. The workshop was conducted on-site at the UMN campus and online through a Zoom meeting (hybrid). This time, the workshop took the theme “Collective Actions for Transforming Sustainable Universities in the Post-Pandemic Time. ” This is the first time UMN has hosted the UI GreenMetric 2022 National Workshop.

Climate change has changed the entirety of the world, and many people globally have been demanding climate justice. Therefore, sustainability and other climate change actions are essential. Besides business industries such as restaurants or transportation, universities also significantly contribute to emissions – the climate crisis. In addition, they are also responsible for educating future generations of young people about the importance of protecting our earth, making ambitious and tangible sustainability actions across campus activities crucial.

The best universities around the world, including UMN, have been striving to make a difference and fight for the future of our planet. One is by taking the initiative to host the 2022 UI GreenMetric Workshop. This workshop is expected to increase commitment, increase higher education’s participation in green campus management, and increase sustainability awareness.

The first day (30/08/22) focused on meetings and discussions between the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking Network (UI GWURN) Coordinators at the National level. Led by Prof. Dr. Ir. Ambariyanto, M.Sc, the National Coordinator of UI GWURN Indonesia, who is also the Vice Chancellor IV of Diponegoro University, they held an open forum. They discussed the development of Indonesian campus rankings at UI GWURN, creating global sustainability leaders, and partnering in solutions to sustainability challenges.

University leaders are invited to discuss and provide suggestions for current and future UI GreenMetric programs and implementation. The open forum presented fruitful discussions and received enthusiasm from various campuses that wanted to host the next UI GreenMetric National Workshop.

It’s Time for Campuses to Pay Attention to Climate Crisis

Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya, the Minister of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia attended  and gave a speech at the UI GreenMetric Workshop online. (Doc. UMN)

The second day of the 2022 UI GreenMetric Workshop highlights the whole event. Opening the second day, Ninok Leksono, the Chancellor of UMN, briefly touched on some environmental issues like the receding of the world’s third largest river in China. Ninok, in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of campuses caring about the impact of global warming.

“Global warming is not only causing climate change but also extremism. Every year has been the hottest year in the last century. If humans don’t put the brakes on the increase in the earth’s surface temperature, environmental disasters that threaten a number of billions of people on earth may happen,” Ninok said.

He also added that it is important for universities in Indonesia to unite, especially with the existence of the UI GreenMetric, which is recognized by environmental institutions internationally. Even though there are ranks that make campuses compete to be green, this is a good competition because it aims to contribute and reduce emissions.

“When environmentalists say time is running out, meaning we have little time before global warming becomes irreversible, we ask, have we heard enough of these warnings? Have we done enough to contribute to emission reduction? Even if the efforts seem too little and too late, we must continue to contribute. So this morning, we are delighted to gather here to discuss our contribution to dealing with global warming,” Ninok said.

In line with Ninok, Prof. Riri Fitri Sari, the Head of UI GreenMetric, said that we (universities) are nature’s managers. We need to leave the best for our children and future generations. “We from UI GreenMetric would like to thank UMN for hosting the workshop,” Riri said.

Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya, the Minister of Environment and Forestry of  Indonesia, also participated in the opening ceremony for the second day of UI GreenMetric. She said that the UI GreenMetric program in assessing universities based on the university’s commitments and actions towards environmental sustainability is very relevant to the Ministry of Forestry’s various policies and programs.

“Environmental challenges in a global context are increasingly diverse. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, planet earth also faces triple challenges, namely climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution, including waste. The urge to accelerate climate change actions, especially to increase the ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is getting stronger,” Siti said.

The Indonesian government has also worked hard for the right to a good and healthy environment. Programs and initiatives such as UI GreenMetric will certainly help encourage Indonesia to ensure environmental sustainability. It all depends on how all of us as elements of the nation work in implementing them.

How Campuses Implement Sustainability In Their Institutions

Ninok Leksono, UMN Chancellor emphasized the importance of caring for climate change. (Doc. UMN)

This workshop invited various keynote speakers to carry out sharing sessions on various topics related to the UI GreenMetric 2022 theme “Collective Actions for Transforming Sustainable Universities in the Post-Pandemic Time.” Various university representatives shared how they implemented programs or policies on campus to implement sustainability. The following are the various keynote speakers and the topics raised:

Topics: Structuring and Infrastructure Management, Energy and Climate Change, Waste.

• Ir. Sarino, MSCE., Sriwijaya University – Infrastructure Structuring and Management.
• Ir. Andrey Andoko, M.Sc., Multimedia Nusantara University – Energy and Climate Change Management.
• Prof. Dr. Margana, M. Hum., M.A., Yogyakarta State University – Waste Management.
• Prof. Dr. Jamal Wiwoho, S.H., M.Hum, Sebelas Maret University – Energy and Climate Change Management.
• Prof. Dr. Nyayu Khodijah, S.Ag., M.Sc., UIN Raden Fatah Palembang – Infrastructure Structuring and Management.
• Dr. Sukarsono. M.Sc., University of Muhammadiyah Malang – Waste Management.

Topics: Water Management, Transportation, Education, and Research.

• Andriah Feby Misna, S.T., M.T, Director of Various New Energy and Renewable Energy – Water Management.
• Ir. Imam Aschuri, M.T., Ph.D., Chairman of the Commission for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and Alumni of the Academic Senate of the Bandung National Institute of Technology – Transportation Management.
• R. Pranajaya, S.Kp, M.Kes., Deputy Director 2 Poltkkes Ministry of Health Tanjungkarang – Education Management.
• Prof. Dr. Ir. Hendarmawan, M.Sc., Padjadjaran University – Water Management.
• Dr. H. M. Nasrullah Yusuf, S.E., M.B.A., Indonesian Technocrat University – Transportation Management.

In addition to the sharing session, UMN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sebelas Maret University, Diponegoro University, and Technocrat University. In the same opportunity, UMN and all UI GreenMetric 2022 participants also welcomed the Sumatran Institute of Technology, which will host the next UI GreenMetric Workshop.

MoU signing of UMN with Sebelas Maret University, Diponegoro University, and Technocrat University at the 2022 UI GreenMetric Workshop. (Doc. UMN)

Indonesian Campus Towards a Green Campus

Closing the 2022 UI GreenMetric Workshop, various representatives of this event conveyed their messages and impressions. They all hope this workshop can encourage more campuses to be more sustainable and green.

“It is an honor because UMN has the opportunity to participate in organizing this workshop,” Ninok said. He shared in a separate interview that through this event, UMN had the opportunity to show what UMN had done so far to make the campus greener, like having energy-efficient buildings. In addition, the presentations done by UMN representatives are expected to be a source of inspiration for other universities that will build new buildings, campuses, or facilities to support their campus activities.

Junaidi, the Vice Chairman of UI GreenMetric, also closed the event. He hopes that sustainability efforts on campus will not only be a gimmick or marketing effort but genuinely for the environment.

“Hopefully, the presentations that are delivered will inspire all of you. Hopefully, there are lessons learned or ideas generated on how each of our campuses can be more sustainable,” Junaidi concluded.

Participants planted trees together at the UMN campus to close the UI GreenMetric 2022 Workshop. (Doc. UMN)

All UI GreenMetric 2022 participants closed the sharing session and continued the event by taking a tour of the UMN campus and planting trees together. The UI GreenMetric 2022 event ran smoothly and resulted in various interesting and fruitful discussions.

The world is united on a mission to create a sustainable future. Therefore, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set in 2015. Higher education is the main institution for disseminating knowledge through research and teaching. These aspects make universities an important player in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

UMN hopes that the 2022 UI GreenMetric National Workshop will be useful and help encourage the implementation of SDGs on each campus. Thank you, UMN wishes all participants of the 2022 UI GreenMetric National Workshop success and good health. Let’s all work together, help each other, and make our earth healthier and a better place for all living things.

By Levina Chrestella Theodora | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

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