Climate Resilience Policy: Examination of Barriers in Semarang City Intan Hapsari Surya Putri (a*), Wiwandari Handayani (b), Rukuh Setiadi (b), Sudarno (c), Fajar Agung Mulia (d)
(a) Program Doktor Ilmu Arsitektur dan Perkotaan, Departemen Arsitektur, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Diponegoro
*intan.hapsari18[at]pwk.undip.ac.id
(b) Departemen Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Diponegoro
(c) Departemen Teknik Lingkungan, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Diponegoro
(d) Program Magister Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, Departemen Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Diponegoro
Abstract
Semarang City is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as sea level rise, flooding, and erosion, which negatively affect the urban system and communities. There is an urgent need to enhance climate change adaptation efforts. Since 2009, Semarang City has been involved in local, national, and international networks to build resilience to climate change. Yet climate change adaptation knowledge barriers, whether the absence of the sense of crisis towards climate change issues or lack of access to existing climate change knowledge have been shown to pose a significant barrier to successful adaptation actions. This study aims to examine the barriers to implementing climate change adaptation strategies in Semarang City. This article used a qualitative approach through desk study literature, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussion (FGD) with related stakeholders to identify and explore challenges/barriers. The data required for this research were obtained from a series of focus group discussions (n=32) and in-depth interviews with key informants (n= 9). The challenges and barriers in implementing climate policies in Semarang City generally consist of four categories: Human Resources, Governance and Policy, Financial, Technology and Information. Lack of knowledge about climate change and adaptation from stakeholders and communities, and limited funding related to climate change adaptation were identified as the most critical challenges/barriers to climate change adaptation in Semarang City. We argue in this article that creating an enabling environment is needed to support the implementation of climate change adaptation activities and address the challenges/barriers in climate change adaptation implementation through the optimization of local stakeholder team such as the Semarang City Resilience Team. Local government and stakeholders have an essential role in minimizing climate change^s impact, including providing forum for coordination and communication between stakeholders regarding climate change issues in Semarang City and building networks and collaboration in implementing climate resilience programs or initiatives. Our findings imply that encouraging the implementation of climate resilience policy and stakeholder involvement in efforts to minimize the impact of climate change play an important role in supporting climate change adaptation, mitigating risks related to climate change, and increasing resilience. Given the complexity of the possible solutions, more practical guidance and recommendation for Semarang City is required. Furthermore, the experience of Semarang City can provide learning for other local governments in Indonesia.
Keywords: climate change adaptation, challenges and barriers, resilience, Semarang City
