Long before the term “climate change adaptation” became widely known, people in Indonesia were already used to reading the signs of nature and adjusting to them. Today, the climate is changing faster than the experience passed down through generations. The question is no longer whether communities are adapting, but whether that adaptation is enough.
Rainfed farmers in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, practice ngawu-awu, a farming approach guided by pranata mangsa, the Javanese seasonal calendar. Since the 2000s, farmers have found it increasingly difficult to align this calendar with actual rainfall patterns. In October 2023, the Yogyakarta office of Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that pranata mangsa can no longer be the only benchmark for when to start planting.
On Pulau Palue in Sikka, residents collect rainwater in tanks at home and distill geothermal steam through petung bamboo (Wae Poa) because there are no springs. In Timbulsloko, Demak, most residents have raised their houses by up to about 1.5 meters and built elevated walkways to cope with tidal flooding (rob). Rob there is driven by rising sea levels and land subsidence, caused in part by groundwater extraction and the degradation of mangroves.
On Pulau Palue in Sikka, residents collect rainwater in tanks at home and distill geothermal steam through petung bamboo (Wae Poa) because there are no springs. In Timbulsloko, Demak, most residents have raised their houses by up to about 1.5 meters and built elevated walkways to cope with tidal flooding (rob). Rob there is driven by rising sea levels and land subsidence, caused in part by groundwater extraction and the degradation of mangroves.
Yet climate risks differ from one region to another. The Climate-Resilient Development (Pembangunan Berketahanan Iklim) study by Bhumi Pasa Hijau (BPH) and UNDP maps risks and adaptation priorities across four sectors: marine and coastal, water, agriculture, and health. Demak, where Timbulsloko is located, falls into the Super Priority class for coastal abrasion, while Gunungkidul is classified as Top Priority for drought in the water sector.
So, is the adaptation already in place enough? The answer is: not necessarily. Every practice has its limits. A raised house does not stop the ground from sinking. A seasonal calendar cannot guarantee when the rain will come, especially as weather patterns become harder to predict. This means that experience passed down through generations remains a foundation, but it needs to be supplemented to cope with increasingly rapid change.
How can adaptation be strengthened?
Strengthening adaptation does not always have to happen on a large scale. Everyone can begin with simple actions suited to the risks in their own surroundings.
Actions to Get Started
- Know the risks in your area: find out whether your home or business is prone to floods, landslides, drought, high waves, or seasonal diseases, using information from BMKG and local government risk maps.
- Combine experience with data and technology: record the natural signs around you, then compare them with weather forecasts and early warnings from official apps or channels before planting, going out to sea, building, or traveling. Choose simple technology that is affordable and easy to share.
- Reduce exposure: avoid building in hazardous locations, keep drainage clean to prevent waterlogging, and store a reserve of clean water.
- Manage nearby water and land: save water and plant trees or other plants in your yard to help maintain water infiltration.
- Act together: involve family, neighbors, business groups, schools, and community groups in sharing information and drawing up emergency response plans, and communicate adaptation needs to the local government.
Community adaptation is a foundation, not a finish line. On this Climate Action Day, start with small steps: check the early weather warnings in your area, talk about the risks with the people closest to you, and support policies that strengthen local adaptation practices, so that communities can not only endure but also thrive.
Source:
Paparan Lokasi Prioritas beserta Aksi Pembangunan Berketahanan Iklim (PBI), Bandung, 3 November 2025.
Ghofur M. 2024. Persisting pranata mangsa: The challenges of traditional knowledge practices in the era of climate crisis.
Medcom.id (19 Okt 2023): Sistem Penanggalan Tak Lagi Relevan Tentukan Musim Tanam di DIY, link artikel: Sistem Penanggalan Tak Lagi Relevan Tentukan Musim Tanam di DIY
Ware Y, Maryani E, Astari AJ. 2026. Kearifan Lokal sebagai Mekanisme Adaptasi terhadap Kekeringan: Studi Sistem Wae Poa pada Masyarakat Pulau Palue. Jurnal Adat dan Budaya, Vol. 8, No.1, pp 167–178.
Penulis: Fauziah Y