The Impacts of Climate Change Are Increasingly Evident Bangka Belitung Prepares Village-Level Adaptation Action Plans

The effects of climate change are increasingly evident in different regions worldwide. The extreme heatwave that hit Europe in the middle of this year serves as a reminder that the climate crisis is progressing faster than many scientific projections. In several regions, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, triggering spikes in mortality, school closures, and the cancellation of outdoor activities. This phenomenon occurred sooner than the UK Met Office’s 2020 projection, which anticipated temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius would only occur around 2050.

Early anticipation of climate change impacts is crucial, especially for an archipelagic country like Indonesia. Zulfikar Arrlianda, Head of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control at the East Belitung Environmental Office (DLH), explained, “As an archipelagic province, the Bangka Belitung Islands are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, both from rising sea levels and the increasing frequency of extreme weather. Therefore, adaptation efforts must be planned and implemented early with community involvement.” According to the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), the Bangka Belitung Islands recorded relatively high numbers of hydrometeorological disasters, around 50–150 events throughout 2025.

In response, the Bangka Belitung Provincial Government, through the Environmental Agency and Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara(YKAN), initiated the development of a Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan. This plan aims to enhance the community’s capacity and resilience to face the impacts of climate change.

As part of the process, DLH Babel and YKAN conducted a “Community-Based Climate Adaptation Planning and Financing Training” in three villages on Bangka Island (Kotakapur, Kotawaringin, and Rebo) in May 2026 and in three villages on Belitung Island (Sungai Padang, Gantung, and Dendang) in July 2026. The action plans were developed through a participatory approach that involved local communities as primary stakeholders in identifying climate risks, determining vulnerable groups, and formulating appropriate adaptation solutions for each village.

Participants not only identified problems during these training sessions but also directly developed actionable plans to address them. For example, in response to high tidal flood risks in Rebo Village, the community proposed tangible initiatives such as mangrove restoration and the construction of natural embankments.

These action plans are documented in comprehensive planning proposals that cover risk profiles, targets, schedules, budgets, monitoring and evaluation plans, and integration into the Village Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMDes) and Village Government Work Plan (RKPDes).

The planning documents, prepared as project proposals, are designed to help villages mobilize external funding, such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. This step is expected to help villages translate climate risks into development programs, budgeting, and funding proposals from various sources.

Zulfikar Arrlianda added, “Climate change adaptation efforts do not always require new initiatives. They can also consist of long-standing community practices, such as maintaining green open spaces and planting trees in surrounding areas. These practices need to be maintained and developed as part of climate change adaptation actions.”

YKAN Coastal Resilience Specialist, I Gusti Ngurah Paul Widya, emphasized that communities are at the forefront of the climate crisis. According to him, local communities possess accurate knowledge of seasonal shifts, potential hazards, and daily impacts. “However, communities still face challenges in understanding and contextualizing adaptation action plans, as well as accessing aligned funding mechanisms. Through this training, we hope villages can become more independent in planning, proposing, and executing their adaptation actions to strengthen their resilience,” he stated.

Krisna Wiranti, a participant from the Sungai Padang Village PKK group, found the training highly valuable. At first, I didn’t understand that the (drought) events in the village were related to climate change. Now I understand, and I was also invited to explore solutions and implement these solutions as proposals for the drought action plan in Sungai Padang Village.”

This initiative also supports the implementation of the Climate Village Program (ProKlim), developed by the national government through the Ministry of Environment, to enhance community climate resilience. With this assistance, the six villages are expected to improve their ProKlim achievements and serve as examples for other villages in Bangka Belitung.

Collaboration among the Bangka Belitung Provincial Government, YKAN, village governments, and local communities is crucial in building climate resilience at the grassroots level. Through participatory and integrated planning, villages will not only be better equipped to withstand the impacts of climate change but also develop adaptable models that can be replicated in other regions of Indonesia.