Universitas Indonesia (UI) is committed to driving positive societal transformation with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Through equality-driven initiatives, we foster inclusivity while promoting ecological awareness and responsible practices. By leveraging academic knowledge, UI encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing both within its campus community and with external stakeholders to ensure that students and graduates contribute to sustainable development in their future pursuits. From innovative research and curriculum development to community outreach programs, Universitas Indonesia aligns its initiatives with the goal of minimizing environmental impact and fostering a culture of ecological responsibility. This commitment reflects the university's holistic approach to preparing graduates who are not only academically proficient but also dedicated to making a meaningful difference for the planet and its future.
Through sustainable development, UI aims to be a catalyst for social change by raising awareness regarding the importance of environmental sustainability and how we can implement sustainable practices into our daily lives. As one of Indonesia’s leading educational institutions, UI has committed to this through our sustainability policies, tracking our institutional carbon emissions in effort to take accountability for as well as improve our numbers, and committing ourselves to achieving net zero emissions as an institution.
In addition to these efforts, along with sustainability training, research, and education, UI also assesses sustainability knowledge and literacy in staff and students alike on a faculty-wide level. UI has various methods of assessing sustainability knowledge and literacy among staff. For academic staff, sustainability knowledge and literacy can be evaluated from scientific publications and textbook references used in teaching materials of relevant classes. Faculties also have a Health, Safety, and Environment (K3L) unit responsible for promoting sustainability knowledge and literacy through disseminations, training, inspections, and reports of said activities. Additionally, UI’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences also provides services to help solve complex measurement problems related to climate change and sustainable development through their Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources (I-SER).
In 2011, UI declared their stance on climate change through UI Rectoral Decree 1307/SK/R/UI/2011 on the Policy on Mitigation and Adaptation to Global Climate Change. This decree was then later updated in 2024 through UI Rectoral Decree No. 440/SK/R/UI/2024. Later in 2018, UI established the Green Campus Initiative through UI Rectoral Decree 2893/SK/R2018 on UI Green Campus Policy, officially marking UI’s commitment towards sustainability. Through this decree, UI declared UI GreenMetric (UIGM) as one of the key performance indicators of sustainability on campus. Furthermore, UI has implemented additional policies and initiatives to strengthen its dedication to sustainability. This includes policies concerning sustainable investment and sustainable procurement of goods and inventory on campus.
In alignment with UI’s dedication to sustainability, several faculties and schools have introduced their own sustainability policies and initiatives to support the existing campus-wide policies and initiatives.
UI has demonstrated diligence in reporting our emissions following the guidelines of the GHG protocol. However, UI currently only reports on carbon dioxide emissions, overlooking the other six GHG indicators: methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. In spite of this, UI manages to achieve a comprehensive analysis of our environmental impact through our own methodologies, namely UIGM. This framework provides a broad perspective on UI’s carbon footprint and supports targeted measures in moving towards sustainability. It reflects UI’s commitment to developing effective strategies for reducing emissions and advancing sustainability efforts.
Both the UI Green Metric and the GHG Protocol are crucial tools in evaluating the university’s impact on the environment. While they differ in their approaches, these frameworks collectively contribute to a thorough understanding of UI’s ecological footprint. This combined assessment helps guide strategic initiatives for emission reduction and highlights UI’s dedication to achieving sustainable development and a greener future.
In 2023, Universitas Indonesia (UI) reported a total carbon emission of 30,285.444 metric tons, with electrical energy consumption accounting for the largest share at 23,499.204 metric tons. As of this publication, UI’s latest carbon footprint calculations are of 2023 while 2024 data is still being processed. UI remains dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint by actively increasing the usage of renewable energy on campus, which has reached an annual production of 1,303,838.4 kWh. A comprehensive calculation of UI’s carbon footprint can be accessed through the Directorate of Operations, Facility Maintenance, and Asset Management’s website in the following link:
Several of UI’s faculties have also taken it upon themselves to calculate their total annual carbon footprint for accountability purposes. These calculations can be accessed through their respective websites below:
Net zero emissions is a foundational goal of the Paris Agreement in 2015 which refers to the state of equilibrium between the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted into the atmosphere and the amount removed. This balance is achieved through reducing emissions as much as possible through measures such as using renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and adopting sustainable practices while compensating for any remaining emissions through carbon offset projects. Achieving net zero emissions is a critical goal in the fight against climate change as it aims to significantly reduce the impact of human activities on global warming. Moreover, pursuing net zero emissions contributes towards the broad objective of SDGs, fostering a sustainable future that balances between environmental, social, and economic goals.
UI is devoted to advancing sustainable development through a range of focused initiatives, particularly in procurement, water and electricity conservation, and the utilization of solar panels for electricity production. UI has established comprehensive water and electricity conservation policies across its campuses while emphasizing the use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity and power on campus.
In addition to UI’s policies and initiatives regulating activities on campus, UI also proposed the establishment of UI Institute for Net Zero Initiative (UI-NZI) in 2024 to support the fulfillment of the net zero emissions target and SDGs. As a concrete step, UI inaugurated five advanced laboratories under UI-NZI to support energy transition, environmental sustainability, and the achievement of the net zero emissions target by 2060.
As an institution of higher education, UI also has a responsibility to positively impact society. This responsibility extends to students who have the responsibility to utilize their knowledge and research capabilities to contribute towards society. In UI, students are encouraged to interact with surrounding communities and beyond in their efforts to create positive impact through community service.
In July 2024, a number of UI students involved in the Para Pahlawan Lingkungan Pesisir Pantai (PALAPA) team visited Kusamba Village in Bali to increase public awareness of the environment and help reforestation efforts through planting hybrid coconut tree seedlings. Not only does this program aim to push forward reforestation efforts, it also seeks to benefit local traditional and cultural events in Kusamba Village.
Later in August 2024, several UI students were again involved in a community service program in Banda Neira called Sadar Konservasi (Conservation Awareness). In collaboration with other campuses, organizations, activists, and museum custodians, UI actively took part in conservation efforts of Banda Neira’s cultural heritage through a conservation training program. This program aims to equip the local community in Banda Neira with knowledge and skills so they can play an active role in maintaining museum collections and cultural houses in order to protect the island’s historical and cultural heritage while pushing forward for international recognition as well.
Sustainability Training in Universitas Indonesia
Universitas Indonesia (UI) has consistently conducted training on various aspects of sustainability for both staff and students. These training programs are designed to advance sustainable development practices which align with UI’s goals and values. To improve reach and impact, UI partners up with various relevant entities, including student organizations. In covering the environmental aspects of sustainability, UI’s training program covers emergency response training (including environmental awareness), fire safety, climate-resilient agriculture practices, and approaches to minimize waste and environmental harm on campus. By focusing on sustainability, UI ensures that participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the long-term benefits of sustainability and how to incorporate it into daily life.
Training on social aspects of sustainability in UI is handled on a faculty basis for increased reach and impact. For staff, this comes in the form of formal education and training every 2 to 4 weeks. For example, the Faculty of Engineering’s service excellence training and the Faculty of Public Health’s basic English language training which aims to improve service for our foreign students and guests through better communication and understanding. For students, faculties regularly conduct seminars aimed to improve students’ skills and insights in the social aspect of sustainability to prepare them for oncoming global challenges. Additionally, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences’ I-SER has a Sustainable Development Center which provides training and capacity building.
Assessment of Literacy and
Knowledge on Sustainable Environment
Among students, UI mainly assesses sustainability knowledge and literacy through course subjects. In most non-STEM majors, faculties use information literacy tools (which include sustainability indicators) to assess students’ literacy and knowledge levels. These tools are usually incorporated into coursework. Meanwhile STEM majors have assessment of sustainability knowledge and literacy as a core part of course subjects. For example, UI’s Faculty of Engineering has a Sustainability, Occupational Health and Safety course designed to enable students to analyze cases by conducting risk assessment and investigation; and propose effective hazard communication, management and control techniques, and risk mitigation with sustainability aspects in mind; and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences have a wide range of courses which directly assess sustainability knowledge and literacy.
