PM_2.5 (particulate matter (PM)with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller) air pollution is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and poses particular risks to children due to its impacts on respiratory health and overall well-being. Children’s exposure to PM_2.5 in two highly polluted cities (Bandung, Indonesia and Kathmandu, Nepal) was investigated over a week-long period. The research aimed to determine (1) children’s overall PM_2.5 exposure levels, (2) the environments or activities contributing most to such exposure, and (3) any differences in exposure between the two study populations. Low-cost PM_2.5 sensors (PurpleAir) and Global Positioning System devices were carried by 61 children aged 6–13 years in custom-designed backpacks, alongside questionnaires used to characterize home and school environments and the child’s routine. Children were recruited from four schools, at which PurpleAir sensors were also installed outdoors to measure ambient PM_2.5 concentrations. Mean personal PM_2.5 concentrations were 48.0 µg m^?3 in Bandung and 45.8 µg m^?3 in Kathmandu. School environments had the lowest mean PM_2.5 (41.2 and 33.7 µg m^?3, respectively) whereas home, commuting, and other microenvironments showed higher mean PM_2.5 concentrations, up to 53.9 µg m^?3. Comparison with World Health Organization guidelines suggests these children are regularly exposed to PM_2.5 concentrations exceeding guidance levels. No specific source driving the elevated concentrations in the home was identified. While commuting, travelling by scooter or walking were associated with the highest PM_2.5 levels. These findings emphasize the urgent need for effective interventions to protect children from high pollution levels in urban environments.

This study applies the social–ecological system (SES) framework to analyze mangrove degradation in Pondok Bali on the North Coast of Java, Indonesia. Integrating the SES framework with the Management and Transition Framework (MTF) and systems thinking tools, particularly causal loop diagram (CLD), the study traces historical changes in coastline morphology, mangrove coverage, and community livelihoods. Analysis of satellite imagery (using MNDWI and NDVI) combined with field observations reveals a substantial coastal retreat of up to 2.36 km and significant loss of mangrove area since 1992. The findings identify multiple interacting drivers of degradation, including land use change, unregulated aquaculture expansion, river diversion, land subsidence, and sea level rise. While recent adaptive measures, such as wave-breaking structures and community-based mangrove planting, show potential, public support remains uneven. Overall, the study underscores the need for a coordinated national and regional master plan with clearly defined stakeholder roles and sustainable financing mechanisms. It concludes that successful mangrove restoration depends on integrated engineering and ecological approaches, supported by blended finance and guided by SES-informed planning.

This study examines how recurrent coastal flooding affects gendered vulnerabilities and capabilities in two communities in Pekalongan City, Indonesia. It employs interviews, focus-group discussions, and observations within an integrated framework of vulnerabilities and capabilities to analyze changes in livelihoods, domestic roles, mobility, and access to resources.Findings highlight differences in vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities between men and women due to gendered divisions of labor. Men face prolonged occupational exposure and breadwinner pressure, while women experience domestic exposure, mobility constraints, and limited financial control. Despite structural constraints, women engage in adaptive practices such as livelihood diversification and informal financial management.The study concludes that gendered vulnerabilities and capabilities stem from environmental stress and labor divisions, emphasizing the need for adaptation policies that address structural gender inequalities and promote equitable resilience strategies.

To achieve Indonesia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), its government has operationalised the Paris Agreement’s ratification through several climate–energy policies. This article investigates the extent to which these policies have reoriented the energy sector towards achieving the NDC targets. Policy trajectory analysis was chosen to unravel the why, how, and what of relevant energy policy documents. The findings suggest that first, the Ministry of National Development Planning, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources are the central institutions in framing and implementing climate–energy policies. Second, variation in the temporal attribute between documents signals the presence of an intricate web of significant energy policies, which explains the difficulty in synchronising efforts towards meeting the NDC targets. Third, the energy policy trajectory still overlooks renewable energy, which may substantially compromise the nation’s efforts to fulfil its international climate commitments.

Indonesia is developing a new capital, Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), which is expected to become a megacity in Southeast Asia. Although promoted as a sustainable city integrated with tropical ecosystems, its potential impact on future temperature increases remains unclear. This study uses mesoscale climate projections with the official land-use plan and the SSP5-8.5 scenario to assess surface air temperature changes in and around IKN. The model simulated urban heat islands (UHIs) in the western and eastern parts of IKN, with the western UHI being strongest and slightly extending northward to rural areas owing to the southerly background wind. Results show that the global warming exerts a larger effect on temperatures than urbanization. Early nighttime temperatures increase by up to 0.78 °C from urbanization alone, 1.9 °C from global warming, and 2.54 °C when both effects are simulated in the mid-twenty-first century. Low wind conditions further amplifies the warming, especially in upwind regions. The finding provides critical insights for mitigating potential heat stress and refining spatial planning in IKN and its surrounding regions.