Jakarta, en.SERU.co.id – Greenpeace Indonesia unfurled two protest banners at Bundaran HI, Jakarta, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, coinciding with two years of the Prabowo-Gibran administration. They urged the government to handle the climate crisis and suppress living costs. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi affirmed that the government continues efforts to handle disasters, including forest and land fires (Karhutla).
The two banners unfurled since around 06.30 WIB carried different messages. The yellow-background banner read, “Disasters Getting Worse, Life Getting Harder, What is the Government Working On?” Meanwhile the other banner contained the demand, “Handle the Climate Crisis, Lower Living Costs.”
Climate Justice Campaigner of Greenpeace Indonesia, Jeanny Sirait, said the climate crisis is increasingly worsening the quality of life of the community. Especially groups of workers who are in vulnerable economic conditions.
“Extreme weather and ecological disasters not only threaten safety and health. But also disrupt sources of livelihood, suppress income and increase food prices. Haze due to forest and land fires becomes one example of ecological impacts that also burden the economic activities of the community,” said Jeanny, as quoted from the Greenpeace website on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Greenpeace also highlighted the rise in living costs and job uncertainty. Including layoffs amid the government’s promises to expand employment opportunities, strengthen food and energy resilience, as well as improve the welfare of the people.
“The government has failed to provide solutions for the impacts of the climate crisis that are increasingly felt in daily life,” said Jeanny.
That criticism was strengthened by a Greenpeace research report titled Tomorrow Prices Rise! Which examines the impacts of the climate crisis on eight community groups in three agglomeration areas on Java Island. Namely Jabodetabekjur, Bandung Basin and Kartamantul.
The research results showed 41 percent of respondents felt the impacts of the climate crisis on consumption patterns and food costs. As many as 39 percent others felt impacts on productivity and income. While 20 percent of respondents were affected in terms of access to housing and transportation costs.
The report also recorded that the community carried out various efforts to survive facing economic pressure. As many as 57.34 percent of respondents cut non-essential consumption. Meanwhile 56.79 percent took side jobs or opened new businesses to add income.
Head of the Social and Economic Campaign Team of Greenpeace Indonesia, Atha Rasyadi, questioned the claim of national economic growth of 5.45 percent in the first half of 2026. He assessed that economic growth is not enough to be used as a measure of success if the community still has difficulty meeting basic needs and must bear the impacts of environmental damage.
“We urge the government to make those research findings as material for consideration. Especially in formulating climate policies that are more pro-community,” he said.
Read Also:
Malang Regency DPRD Urges Clear Regulation on Sound Horeg
Government Affirms Disaster Handling Continues to Run
Responding to that action, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi affirmed that the government continues efforts to handle disasters occurring in Indonesia. Including forest and land fires (karhutla).
“We are all trying as hard as possible, everything is being done,” said Prasetyo.
Prasetyo stated that the government does not want disasters to occur or to let them drag on. According to him, various efforts have been carried out through the deployment of ground personnel, air fleets and volunteers to extinguish the fires.
He also explained that the handling of Karhutla mainly occurs on peatland. However it is a challenge of its own because its characteristics are different from mineral soil.
In addition to extinguishing, the government stated it will take action against parties proven involved in forest fires. Prasetyo mentioned heavy sanctions, including the revocation of corporate permits, can be applied against companies proven guilty.
The government is also running weather modification operations (OMC) to help overcome karhutla. Prasetyo said the methods used include the utilization of dry ice to help the process of cloud formation. Then continued with seeding using sodium chloride (NaCl).
According to him, rain began to fall in a number of regencies after those efforts were carried out. He mentioned the weather modification operations took place in four provinces. Namely South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and West Kalimantan.
Five Activists Released
Amid the handling of the action, as many as five of the 11 activists arrested by the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of Metro Jaya Regional Police have been released. The accompanying team from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), Alif Fauzi, said the five people were the rescue team and press crew.
Meanwhile, six other activists are still at the Metro Jaya Regional Police Headquarters to undergo further legal processes.
