Indonesia Pushes Climate Mobility Agenda in Talks with Pacific Island Leaders

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has stepped up its role in global climate diplomacy by engaging with Pacific island nations on strategies to protect communities and territories threatened by rising sea levels.

Indonesian Deputy Minister for Environment Diaz Hendropriyono held a series of bilateral meetings during the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum (BCMF) 2026, underscoring Indonesia’s commitment to advancing solutions for climate-induced displacement.

In discussions with leaders including Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., Tuvalu Governor-General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani, Maldives Minister of Climate Change Ali Shareef, and Tajikistan’s Environmental Protection Committee Chair Sheralizoda Bahodur Ahmadjon, Diaz stressed the human dimension of climate mobility.

“Mobility is ultimately about people, their homes, livelihoods, culture, and future. Our shared responsibility is to ensure no community is left without choice, protection, or hope,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Diaz highlighted Indonesia’s readiness to play a major role in safeguarding island nations at risk of submersion due to climate change.

He also met with South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment Willem Abraham Stephanus Aucamp, with both countries affirming the importance of collaboration in finding joint solutions to climate challenges.

Further talks with German Ministry of Environment reinforced the urgency of advancing the climate mobility agenda ahead of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP-31). Diaz noted that German officials encouraged coalition-building among BCMF countries to ensure momentum translates into concrete political action.

“The next steps must deliver real impact--we need political will and the right momentum to begin,” he recalled from his meeting with German Director General for International Climate Action, Heike Henn.

Diaz emphasized that climate mobility is not only a pressing issue for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) but also for larger archipelagic nations like Indonesia.

The BCMF, held on June 18–19, 2026, sought to raise awareness of climate-driven displacement, where communities face the prospect of leaving ancestral lands due to rising seas and environmental degradation.

By positioning itself as both a vulnerable archipelagic state and a proactive partner, Indonesia aims to strengthen global cooperation on climate mobility, ensuring that adaptation strategies protect people while preserving cultural identity and livelihoods. ***