The Research and Advocacy for Climate Policy and Action (RACPA) consortium, led by Jesuits, held a workshop on climate justice and community resilience in Surakarta, Indonesia, May 13–17.
RACPA is a five-year initiative (2023–2028) led by Jesuit Refugee Service Asia Pacific (JRSAP), Percik Institute (Indonesia), and Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC, Philippines). It is supported by Caritas Australia (the social development agency of Catholic bishops in the country) and the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) of the Australian Government.
Hosted by the Percik Institute, this midpoint workshop marked a key milestone in the five-year journey (2023–2028). It was more than a planning session—a space to reconnect, recalibrate, and renew participants' shared commitment to climate justice and community resilience.
Dr. Haryani Saptaningtyas reminded the audience by saying, "Listening closely to the vulnerable is listening closer to God."
Louie Bacomo, JRSAP Program Director for Climate and Forced Displacement, opened the program by highlighting the intersection of climate and displacement, the evolution of research, and the need to move from learning to action, from community to policy.
Joining remotely, Anshu Adhikari, Program Coordinator for RACPA at Caritas Australia, engaged participants on key project concerns and emphasized the importance of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) in driving meaningful impact.
The program concluded with community field visits to Tambakrejo in Semarang and Wonoagung in Demak, Central Java—two areas deeply affected by coastal flooding and land subsidence. These visits, coupled with reflections from Indonesian delegates who joined the February cross-country visit to the Philippines, were powerful reminders that solidarity transcends borders and that local realities must shape global advocacy.
Jesuit Fr. Martinus Dam Febrianto, JRS Indonesia Country Director, and Widya Setiabudi, JRSAP Deputy Regional Director, provided helpful advice regarding their work across Indonesia.
As climate change continues to reshape lives and landscapes, RACPA remains rooted in evidence-based advocacy, adaptive programming, and community-led action.
RACPA consortium members are committed to building a more just and resilient future.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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