Speaking at the forum on Monday, June 23, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) emphasized that sustainable cities will be essential for the future of global citizens.
“We gather as representatives of various nations, united by one belief: the future of the world will be determined in our cities,” AHY said in a statement released by his office on Wednesday.
The first step AHY proposed is regional empowerment — calling for greater roles for local governments and stakeholders in developing housing that meets community needs. He stressed that urban resilience must begin at the smallest unit: within homes and families.
“We must strengthen institutional capacity, authority, and regional policy tools to design local climate adaptation plans that integrate safe and affordable housing with access to jobs, education, healthcare, and transportation,” he said.
The second step involves increasing investment in sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, which AHY said is vital to both reducing emissions and improving urban quality of life.
“We must balance ecosystem preservation with the rapid pace of urban development — ranging from restoring mangrove forests along Java’s northern coast to building smart transportation corridors in expanding cities,” he explained.
The third step is to broaden access to transformative financing. AHY stressed that sustainable finance systems must be designed to meet the specific needs of developing countries and deliver tangible results.
“This includes improving public budget management, mobilizing private capital, and working with multilateral development partners, including the New Development Bank, to fund climate-resilient housing, net-zero infrastructure, and digital technologies for urban risk mapping and mitigation,” he said.
AHY reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to contributing to BRICS cooperation through data exchange, pilot projects, and practical policy implementation.
“Together, we can shape an urban future that is inclusive, climate-resilient, and rooted in the priorities and innovations of Global South countries,” he said.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization originally formed as an acronym for five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The group has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Z, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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