MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah, HIDIMU (Muhammadiyah Association for People with Disabilities), and GreenFaith organized the Walk for Peace and Climate Justice in Jakarta on Saturday, July 5. The event highlighted that climate justice is a basic right for everyone, including people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Around 50 participants took part in the walk, which began at Jakarta Cathedral, passed through the Silaturahim Tunnel, stopped at Istiqlal Mosque, and ended at Pura Adhitya Jaya in Rawamangun. These three places of worship symbolized religious harmony and a shared commitment to addressing the climate crisis together.
“Peace can only be achieved when environmental and social justice are experienced by all people, including those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups,” said Hening Parlan, Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah and National Coordinator of GreenFaith Indonesia.
Faith leaders from various religious communities echoed this message of solidarity. Macarius Maharsono Probho, S.J. emphasized the importance of inclusive action, stating, “Pancasila is our shared spirit. Small movements like this should continue so that justice and humanity are not only slogans but also a part of our everyday lives.”
Meanwhile, Chair of HIDIMU Fajri Hidayatullah stressed the importance of including people with disabilities in climate action.
“Justice is not just for people without disabilities. Our friends with disabilities must also be involved as part of the solution,” he said.
Religious communities also shared their efforts to care for the environment. Susiana Suwandi from Jakarta Cathedral explained that the church now uses 30% solar energy, making it the first cathedral in Indonesia to adopt solar power.
“We’ve also made sure the church is accessible to people with disabilities. This is how we live our faith, by caring for the planet,” said Susiana.
Yusuf Fauzi, from the Istiqlal Mosque management team, added the mosque has installed solar panels, recycles water from ablutions, manages waste responsibly, and uses eco-friendly materials.
“We want the mosque to be a model for green places of worship,” said Yusuf.
At Pura Adhitya Jaya, Putu Maharta spoke about the importance of unity in diversity.
“Differences are a blessing, but unity is our strength. We must uphold this value to keep our country strong,” said Putu.
The walk also received support from the Ford Foundation. Representative Farah Sofa noted, “This initiative aligns with our mission to achieve both social and climate justice. We hope to build a more peaceful and inclusive world together.”
Youth Declaration for Climate and Gender Justice
A key highlight of the event was the reading of the Interfaith Youth Declaration for Climate and Gender Justice inside the Silaturahim Tunnel, which connects the mosque and the cathedral. The tunnel served as a symbolic space for unity.
The declaration outlined four major commitments:
- Building inclusive ecological transformation, including green spaces, clean energy transition, and community-based waste management
- Promoting inclusive leadership in climate action with safe spaces and capacity-building for gender-equitable ecological leadership
- Strengthening interfaith solidarity for the planet by developing networks of eco-friendly worship spaces and spiritually grounded education
- Protecting vulnerable groups, especially persons with disabilities, by empowering them to face climate challenges
The reading of the declaration marked a shared commitment to interfaith collaboration and inclusive climate action, sending a strong message that no one should be left behind.
“This walk isn’t just symbolic. It’s the beginning of real hope in the face of a climate crisis. This is our moment of renewal, a time to take meaningful action together,” said Hening Parlan.
The event was supported by the Ford Foundation, UHAMKA, RSI Jakarta Cempaka Putih, and several interfaith leaders. The organizers hoped this movement would inspire others across Indonesia to unite in protecting the Earth, our shared home, through faith, cooperation, and inclusive action.
