While the headlines often focus on melting glaciers and atmospheric carbon, the true measure of the disaster is its disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable communities. In a powerful declaration on this principle, KONEKSI (Knowledge Sector Initiative) partnership—a vital collaboration between the Governments of Australia and Indonesia—convened its Knowledge Innovation Exchange (KIE) Forum in Yogyakarta, establishing an undeniable mandate: climate research must be unequivocally inclusive.
Rooted in the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) framework, it is not merely a policy add-on but a foundational requirement for climate change. It addresses the needs of those disproportionately affected, including women, people with disabilities, and marginalized communities, whose unique vulnerabilities are often overlooked.
Yet, as the forum unfolded on November 19–20, 2025, more than 200 academics, practitioners, policymakers, industry partners, and local community members present agreed that technical fixes alone are insufficient. The path to resilience, they affirmed, must be paved with social justice and equity, ensuring that the voices of disabled researchers and vulnerable groups are at the heart of the solution.
Unmasking Vulnerability
Associate Professor Connie Susilawati from Queensland University of Technology emphasized comparative analysis in Australia, highlighting the homeless as a primary vulnerable group due to restrictive rebuilding mechanisms.
In the Knowledge to Policy session on climate-resilient infrastructure, one of the highlighted issues was floods in several coastal cities. She said that floods occur both in Indonesia and Australia, and their frequency is expected to increase with climate change. Therefore, multi-approach interventions need to be carried out; not only technically through infrastructure but also socially to prepare communities, especially vulnerable groups, to face situations before and after floods.
“The classification related to vulnerable groups differs in each region. In our research in Surabaya, women and children were identified as vulnerable groups that needed support during floods. However, when conducting a comparison in Australia, one other group emerged, namely the homeless, who were categorized as vulnerable. This is due to different mechanisms applied in Australia, when a house is affected by a disaster, for example, a flood, then that place may not be rebuilt,” said Connie.
The Gender Test: Policy as a Barrier
The focus on equity was further crystallized in the realm of social forestry management, where researchers demonstrated how gender-neutral policies often become barriers to inclusion.
Dr. Tessa Toumbourou of The University of Melbourne and Dr. Lilis Mulyani of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) presented findings on Village Forest Management Institutions (LPHD). Despite regulatory changes that allow family participation, women remain largely excluded from formal decision-making roles, often relegated to commercial roles such as managing product sales.
Additionally, the revision of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Decree No. 9 of 2021 has indeed enabled one family to participate in the LPHD. From observation, women have not been significantly involved in LPHD and tend to take roles in the commercialization of forest products through social agriculture business groups (KUPS). However, based on comparisons of social forestry management between village forests (in Sintang, West Kalimantan, and Muara Enim, South Sumatra) and community forests (in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, and Enrekang, South Sulawesi), inclusive management will have an impact on the economy.
“There are still several barriers experienced by women to being involved in social forestry. Gender-neutral policies, limited information, and complex, technical administrative requirements make it difficult for women to navigate this licensing process without the help of non-governmental organizations. So, the outcomes of this regulation are still not equal from a gender perspective,” said Lilis.
Investment in Knowledge, Investment in Equity
The KIE Forum serves as a flagship initiative that demonstrates the Australia-Indonesia partnership’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation through an equity lens. This critical collaboration is backed by significant, long-term commitment, with the Australian government allocating approximately Rp3.8 trillion annually to programs supporting evidence-based, sustainable development.
As KONEKSI prepares for the KIE Summit in Jakarta, the clear message from Yogyakarta is a powerful one for policymakers, academics, and practitioners alike. Effective climate resilience is not a matter of sheer technological advancement or funding volume; it is a mandate that champions the rights and unique needs of the vulnerable.
Through knowledge partnerships that actively challenge existing power structures and diverse voices, KONEKSI is driving a model for sustainable development that is truly just. The journey of innovation continues not in abstraction, but in real life. As seen in Yogyakarta, climate resilience demands localized solutions, as vulnerabilities are context-specific and vary from one region to another.
Read the news reports:
Kontan. Dukung Program Pembangunan, Australia Kucurkan Rp 3,8 Triliun Setiap Tahun untuk RI. 19 November 2025. Accessed from: https://nasional.kontan.co.id/news/dukung-program-pembangunan-australia-kucurkan-rp-38-triliun-setiap-tahun-untuk-ri
Suara Jogja. Riset Harus Turun ke Masyarakat, Kolaborasi Indonesia-Australia Genjot Inovasi Hadapi Krisis Iklim. 19 November 2025. Accessed from: https://jogja.suara.com/read/2025/11/19/150746/riset-harus-turun-ke-masyarakat-kolaborasi-indonesia-australia-genjot-inovasi-hadapi-krisis-iklim
Tempo.co. Penyebab Kota Wisata Yogyakarta Kini Lebih Hangat. 19 November 2025. Accessed from: https://www.tempo.co/hiburan/penyebab-kota-wisata-yogyakarta-kini-lebih-hangat-2091281
Teras Malioboro. Suara Periset Disabilitas: Riset Inklusif Mutlak Agar Solusi Perubahan Iklim Ramah untuk Semua. 20 November 2025. Accessed from: https://terasmalioboro.id/suara-periset-disabilitas-riset-inklusif-mutlak-agar-solusi-perubahan-iklim-ramah-untuk-semua/
Tribunnews. Dampak Perubahan Iklim Dibahas 200 Akademisi Praktisi di Yogyakarta: Suhu Naik, Pertanian Terancam. 20 November 2025. Accessed from: https://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/7756947/dampak-perubahan-iklim-dibahas-200-akademisi-praktisi-di-yogyakarta-suhu-naik-pertanian-terancam
