Building Climate Resilience in Bandung, Indonesia: A Community-Driven Approach to Sustainable Urban Development

The Problem

Bandung City, Indonesia, faces severe challenges related to climate change, urban flooding, air pollution, and rising temperatures, all threatening infrastructure, public health, and economic stability. Frequent and severe flooding has displaced residents and damaged roads and drainage systems, with recent water levels reaching as high as 170 centimeters. The rise in private vehicle ownership and outdated public transport infrastructure have led to persistent air pollution, worsening respiratory diseases and increasing healthcare costs. Additionally, the loss of green spaces has exacerbated the urban heat island effect, making parts of the city significantly hotter and less resilient to extreme weather events. Without effective interventions, Bandung risks continued environmental degradation, economic losses from congestion, and long-term climate vulnerabilities.

The Opportunity

Recognizing the escalating risks posed by climate change, local authorities in Bandung saw an opportunity to leverage academic expertise and community participation to create sustainable solutions. The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), the Local Planning and Development Agency (Bappeda), and the Environmental Protection Agency (BPLHD) formed a collaboration to address these challenges by mitigating urban flooding, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving air quality through innovative urban planning and public engagement. This work aligns with Bandung’s broader vision for a climate-resilient city, integrating research and community action to create long-term environmental solutions.

This consultancy also provided an opportunity to adopt the EPIC Model and become part of the EPIC-Network (EPIC-N), a global initiative that fosters partnerships between universities and cities to solve real-world urban challenges. By embedding the EPIC Model into its curriculum and research efforts, ITB has established a framework that strengthens collaborations between students, faculty, policymakers, and local communities. This approach ensures that climate resilience efforts are scientifically informed, locally driven, and community-focused.

Collaboration with local government agencies has been crucial in supporting Bandung’s long-term climate adaptation goals. Bappeda and BPLHD have provided policy support, regulatory frameworks, and coordination mechanisms to align academic research with municipal priorities. This ongoing work has created a scalable model for sustainable urban development in Bandung by integrating community-driven urban planning with government-backed environmental strategies.

Our Partnership

Nurrohman Wijaya, Ph.D., an assistant professor of urban and regional planning at ITB, spearheaded the partnership between ITB, local government agencies, and community groups. This collaboration focused on integrating climate-resilient development strategies into community-led urban initiatives. ITB introduced new technologies and adaptive urban designs, ensuring that interventions addressed specific community needs while aligning with climate adaptation goals.

One of the most impactful programs resulting from this partnership is Buruan SAE Sabedug, an initiative designed to expand urban green spaces and promote sustainable urban agriculture. The program focused on transforming underutilized areas into community-driven green spaces, empowering residents to cultivate vegetables such as chilies, bok choy, eggplant, and shallots using hydroponics, soil-based farming, organic tower gardens (OTGs), and aquaponics. These techniques maximize urban space, improve food security, and enhance environmental resilience, particularly in flood-prone and drought-affected areas.

With support from the Bandung City Government, the program also addressed water resource management challenges. Initiatives included installing water pumps to mitigate drought impacts and planting trees to reduce flooding risks. These efforts increased local green spaces, improved community resilience, and fostered environmental stewardship among residents. Through active participation in planting and maintenance, the program strengthened community engagement in climate action, creating a self-sustaining model of urban adaptation.

Courses Involved

The consultancy was embedded into multiple courses at ITB, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world urban challenges. Students from the following courses actively contributed to this support effort:

• Planning Process Studio – Focused on community assessments, participatory planning, and designing climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Community Planning and Development Process – Addressed social, economic, and environmental factors in urban adaptation strategies.
• Sustainable Urban Development – Explored policy frameworks, land-use planning, and nature-based solutions for climate resilience.
• Transportation and Environmental Management – Examined urban mobility, air pollution, and traffic-related environmental concerns.

Students engaged in field research, community consultations, and urban planning exercises, working closely with local government agencies to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

The Result

Preliminary findings from this work indicate that community-led urban greening initiatives significantly enhance climate resilience. The initiative has successfully mitigated flood risks, improved air quality, and strengthened community participation in sustainability efforts by integrating urban agriculture, water management strategies, and adaptive land use planning. The Buruan SAE Sabedug program has already contributed to increasing urban green spaces, reducing heat island effects, and enhancing biodiversity in key districts of Bandung.

Students from ITB have been actively involved in documenting project outcomes, analyzing environmental impacts, and presenting their findings at national and international conferences. The consultancy has encouraged students to develop innovative solutions that align with Bandung’s climate adaptation policies, ensuring that academic research translates into practical, real-world impact.

As part of their coursework, students also interviewed community members, urban farmers, and local policymakers to assess the effectiveness of green infrastructure projects. Their research findings were submitted to Bappeda and BPLHD, providing valuable insights that could inform future climate adaptation policies and urban resilience planning.

Additionally, the consultancy has influenced Bandung’s approach to integrating urban agriculture with municipal planning. By demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of localized food production, this work has paved the way for policy discussions on expanding similar programs across the city.

Faculty at ITB, particularly Assistant Professor Wijaya, are committed to sustaining and expanding these climate adaptation efforts. Plans are already in place to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, integrate new technologies, and strengthen policy engagement with government agencies.

Looking Ahead

The success of this work highlights the importance of scaling climate resilience efforts across Bandung. Moving forward, ITB aims to expand the reach of community-driven sustainability initiatives, incorporating them into additional courses such as Planning Process Studio and Community Planning and Development Process. The initiative will also be opened to students from other study programs, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and broader participation in urban climate action.

Strengthening partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations remains a priority, focusing on expanding the network of collaborators and securing long-term funding. The next phase of this support effort aims to develop a strategic plan or policy brief for the Bandung City Government, outlining scalable models for climate-resilient urban development.

Partnership Contact Information

Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB)
Assistant Professor Dr. Nurrohman Wijaya

nurrohman.wijaya@itb.ac.id

Written by: Jonathan Kroeze
Edited by: Kay Phanthuwongpakde