* Written by: Hizbullah Arief
City of Pekanbaru, one of UCLG ASPAC CRIC Project’s pilot cities is catching up with other cities with first and second technical assistances to complete CRIC first adaptation training (A1).
These technical assistances were needed to speed up data collection process to measure the city's risks and resilience to climate change. The event - supported by trainers from CCROM - was held in Dafam Hotel, Pekanbaru between 31 July and 1 August 2023.
On behalf of the city Mayor, Drs. Ingot Ahmad Hutasuhut, Second Assistant of Municipal Secretariat, City of Pekanbaru opened the event. Ahmad highlighted the importance of the city’s climate mitigation and adaptation plans in guiding the city’s middle and long-term development planning in his introductory remarks. He also emphasised the needs for CRIC working group thoroughly analysing climate-related data. “We have to make sure that the climate data reflects the actual condition of Pekanbaru City,” added Ahmad.
CRIC project interventions encourage inclusive dialogues and bottom-up ways to implementing climate adaptation indicators such as climate sensitivity, adaptive capabilities, and climate impacts. These measures will eventually improve ownership of the city's climate action plan, which is the end result of CRIC climate mitigation and adaptation trainings as well as technical assistances.
Dressed in traditional Malay outfits, CRIC climate working group (Pokja) members - who were celebrating Riau Province birthday on 9 August 2023 - actively discussed climate adaptation components facilitated by CRIC field officer, Indah Yusliga Sari Purba and CCROM trainers, Adi Rakhman and Sulistiyanti.
Hizbullah Arief, CRIC Project Manager provided an update to the CRIC Climate Working Group with the current states of CRIC project. Arief stated that Pekanbaru is one of CRIC pilot cities that had been visited by CRIC partner, ACR+ between 26-28 February 2023.
Danko Aleksic from ACR+ had a chance to observe waste management in Pekanbaru City by visiting the city’s Muara Fajar landfill and meeting with city officials and communities involved in waste recycling and collection. The Brussels-based organisation is developing tools and training materials on decentralised solution for waste prevention and management.
CRIC project is entering its final year in 2024. This year, the CRIC Project is intensively coordinating with partners and climate working groups in all ten pilot cities to finalise climate action plans, tools and training materials. Next year, the project will also include a panel of experts and training events.
With the assistance of CRIC European and Asian Partners, finalised CAP reports, thematic tools and training materials will become important assets for the project to mainstream climate actions and boost city stakeholders’ capacity to solve local thematic challenges.
* Hizbullah Arief is CRIC Project Manager
