On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Auditorium A at the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) hosted a highly anticipated public lecture attended by students, faculty, and academic staff (tendik). The lecture, titled "Energy Transition to Mitigate Global Warming and Adapt to Climate Change Disasters", was designed to increase understanding of the importance of climate change mitigation efforts through sustainable energy transitions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change-related disasters.

The lecture was delivered by a leading expert in energy and climate change, Prof. Ir. Yohannes Sardjono, APU, who is renowned for his expertise in engineering and environmental science. In his presentation, Prof. Yohannes provided a comprehensive explanation of the urgent need for an energy transition to combat global warming. He emphasized that climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, has reached a critical point. Therefore, transitioning to environmentally friendly energy sources, such as renewable energy, is essential.

Prof. Yohannes stressed that energy transition is not just about shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources; it also involves a paradigm shift in technology, policy, and the way we manage natural resources. This transition must be carried out gradually, involving all sectors, including government, private industry, and society at large.

One key point raised by Prof. Yohannes was how Indonesia, with its abundant natural resources, can harness the potential of renewable energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy to replace fossil fuel usage. He also highlighted the significant challenges that developing countries face in implementing an energy transition, particularly in terms of funding and limited technology.

In addition to discussing energy transition, Prof. Yohannes also addressed the importance of adaptation to the disasters caused by climate change. The impacts of climate change, such as increasingly severe natural disasters, must be tackled with well-thought-out mitigation strategies, including the development of disaster-resistant infrastructure and raising public awareness about the importance of reducing disaster risks.

He further emphasized that adaptation measures should include the establishment of early warning systems, community training, and policies that reduce losses from disasters, while strengthening the social and economic resilience of vulnerable communities.

The public lecture was not only an opportunity to gain insights from the keynote speaker but also a chance for participants to engage directly in discussions about the issues presented. The Q&A session was highly interactive, with numerous questions from students, faculty, and staff at ITK. Several questions were raised about the challenges and opportunities in implementing renewable energy in Indonesia, as well as how educational institutions like ITK can contribute to supporting this energy transition.

This public lecture attracted significant interest from various members of the ITK community, including students, faculty, and staff. The enthusiasm of the participants was evident in the many questions posed, demonstrating that the topics of energy transition and climate change adaptation are of great interest, particularly in the context of Indonesia, which is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The lecture provided a deeper understanding of the importance of energy transition as an effort to mitigate global warming and the necessity of adaptation measures in addressing climate change disasters. Prof. Yohannes Sardjono, with his expertise, offered a comprehensive view of the challenges and solutions needed to achieve more environmentally friendly energy systems. It is hoped that this public lecture will inspire the entire academic community at the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan to actively contribute to efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as in developing sustainable energy solutions.