By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda
Jakarta (21/12)-As an archipelago with the longest and most extensive coastline in the world, Indonesia is among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. However, the challenges of climate change adaptation efforts are relatively less understood compared to mitigation efforts. Given the urgency of the matter, WWF and Nahdlatul Ulama joined hands.
Yesterday, as one of the efforts to increase public awareness about climate change adaptation, WWF together with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) launched the book "The Best Way for Communities to Deal with Climate Change: An Islamic Perspective on Climate Change Adaptation," on Monday (20/12), at the NU office in Jakarta.
The more than 100-page book was compiled over a period of five months by a team of experts from both organizations and involved a number of resource persons such as Prof. Dr. Emil Salim (Member of the Presidential Advisory Council), Ir. Rahmat Witoelar (Daily Chairman of DNPI/ Special Envoy of the President for Climate Change), and several Muslim scholars. This book seeks to invite readers to recognize the real impact of climate change through the stories of climate testimonies of farming and fishing communities in the coastal areas of Southeast Sulawesi and the adaptation steps that need to be taken to deal with climate change.
"The phenomenon of climate change due to global warming is not only a threat to environmental conditions, but also to the social, economic, and even security aspects of a country. Locally, the threats and impacts of climate change have the potential to cause microeconomic disruptions. If this threat is anticipated too late nationally, then we can be sure that there will be macroeconomic disruption," explained WWF-Indonesia Executive Director Efransjah.

Through cooperation with NU, Efransjah hopes that the value of environmental conservation, especially the issue of climate change adaptation, can be socialized effectively. According to him, NU as one of the major Islamic organizations and has strong roots in the community has great potential in mobilizing public awareness of the environment.
Meanwhile, chairman of NU's Disaster and Climate Change Mitigation Institute (LPBI NU) Avianto Muhtadi stated that the book "Islamic Perspectives on Climate Change Adaptation" can be an entry point for how NU can contribute to efforts to reduce the impact of climate change. "With 70 million members and 15 million members in 15 countries, NU has the potential to reduce the impact of climate change.
"With 70 million members and 15 thousand pesantren, I think NU can be an effective tool to work together with the government to preserve the environment. NU with its cultural and religious approach is able to increase public awareness of the importance of protecting the environment," Avianto explained. The WWF-NU initiative was recognized by WWF-NU for its efforts to reduce climate change.
The WWF-NU initiative was appreciated by the Chairman of DNPI, Rahmat Witoelar, who also attended the book launching event. According to him, so far the positive law approach is considered unable to stop the irresponsible exploitation of nature. This is where NU as an Islamic organization with its moral approach can optimize its role in order to increase public awareness of the impact of climate change that is already very alarming.
This book is planned to be disseminated to the entire NU network through Islamic boarding schools spread throughout Indonesia and its 15 special branches abroad.