“These schools, which have been established across various regions, must embrace the Adiwiyata concept,” he said during the 2025 Adiwiyata awards at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) here on Thursday.
According to him, the country's natural landscape can no longer withstand climate challenges, with sea levels rising almost every year.
"This Adiwiyata symbol should remind schools to care more for the environment," he said.
Nurofiq highlighted the low number of schools committed to the program. Of around 450 thousand middle-level schools, including elementary, secondary, and madrasah institutions, only about 3,500 have adopted the Adiwiyata concept.
“Today we present these awards to encourage resilience-based school environments. We still have much to achieve, so collaboration with many parties is essential to build environmental awareness among our students,” he stated.
He noted that recent floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra serve as critical reminders that Indonesia’s natural systems are increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
“Rising rainfall, prolonged droughts, and higher sea levels pose serious risks for our archipelagic nation, which lies along the equator. Embedding environmental awareness is therefore essential for nation-building,” he said.
The minister stressed the need for all parties to restore the environment as a foundation of national development, noting that recent disasters must guide future policies.
He warned that without timely action, Indonesia’s natural wealth will continue to decline.
“Therefore, what we have today must be preserved, and restoration and recovery measures must be built gradually. God willing, we can adapt to climate change, which we hope can be addressed in the near future,” he said.
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Translator: Lintang, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
