Dissemination of Research Results “Impact of Climate Change on Children and Adolescents with Disabilities, and Those with Leprosy in Indonesia”
Taking place at the Auditorium of the Moh. Natsir Building, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Planning (FTSP), Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) on 16 Dzulhijah 1446 H/12 June 2025, one of the lecturers of the Department of Environmental Engineering, FTSP UII, Ikrom Mustofa, S.Si., M.Sc., presented the results of his research entitled "The Impact of Climate Change on Children and Adolescents with Disabilities, and Those with Leprosy in Indonesia, Case Study of North Central Timor Regency and Ternate City".
Ikrom Mustofa in his presentation revealed that children and adolescents with disabilities have double vulnerabilities in facing climate change. In addition to limited access to basic services such as health, education, clean water, and social protection, they also face structural barriers and social stigma that worsen their position in the social and development system.
He explained that the condition is increasingly complex for children and adolescents with leprosy. Because they not only face physical and psychosocial barriers due to the disease, but also the burden of stigma and discrimination that often isolates them from their communities, including in handling climate risks. "This group of children and adolescents with disabilities is still often marginalized in various planning and policy-making processes related to climate," he said.
The young lecturer further added that available data and policies have not fully adopted an intersectional approach that takes into account age, type of disability, health conditions such as leprosy, and local dynamics that affect their adaptive capacity. "The inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in the climate agenda is not only about social justice, but also important to ensure that the response to the climate crisis is comprehensive, sustainable, and based on human rights," he added.
The event was officially opened by the Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering FTSP UII, Dr.Eng. Ir. Awaluddin Nurmiyanto, ST, M.Eng., who in his speech and direction stated that the activity was one of the university's commitments in bringing research closer to the needs of society, especially marginalized groups. "Through this research, we can see that climate injustice is real and must be responded to with inclusive, adaptive, and data-based policies," he said.
Meanwhile, Agus Wijayanto, MMID, Director of Netherlands Leprosy Relief (NLR) Indonesia, said that the research collaboration was an important milestone in encouraging the mainstreaming of disability and leprosy issues into climate change policies.
"We see minimal attention to people with disabilities and people with leprosy in national and regional climate change strategy documents. This research is an effort to strengthen the evidence-based advocacy base," he said.
The dissemination activity also presented speakers Dewi Wulandari, S.Hut., M.Agr., Ph.D., Director of the UII Center for Climate Change and Disaster Studies, and Kenichi Satria, Young Practitioner of NLR Indonesia. In addition, there were respondents consisting of Ir. Arif Wibowo, M.Sc., ICLEI Country Manager Indonesia, Nurjannah, SE., Makugawene Disability Family Association, Ternate City, and Sr. M. Marcella, PRR, from the Ibu Anfrida Social Foundation, TTU Regency, both of which are grassroots organizations that have been working directly with the disability community and people with leprosy.
At the end of the event, a signing ceremony was held Implementation Agreement between the Department of Environmental Engineering FTSP UII and NLR Indonesia, which aims to strengthen collaboration in applied research, community capacity development, and advocacy for policies based on inclusion and climate justice.
