LocationsSIDIK: A Data-Driven Path to Climate Resilience in Indonesia
March 17, 2026
As climate change intensifies, countries around the world are under increasing pressure to strengthen their capacity to adapt. At the global level, adaptation progress is now measured more systematically. During COP30, countries adopted the Belém Adaptation Indicators, a set of 59 indicators designed to track progress toward the Global Goal on Adaptation, enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience, and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
One of these indicators calls for countries to conduct regular and up-to-date assessments of climate hazards, impacts, and vulnerabilities by 2030. These assessments help governments understand who and what is most at risk, and guide decisions on how to adapt effectively.
In this context, an important question emerges: how prepared is Indonesia to meet this goal?
Indonesia began addressing this challenge more than a decade ago. Through the Ministry of Environmenti, in 2012 Indonesia developed a Sistem Informasi Data Indeks Kerentanan (SIDIK) a national information system that maps climate vulnerability across Indonesia down to the village level.
SIDIK provides data and analysis on how climate change may affect communities, ecosystems, and local economies. The system helps local governments understand the level of vulnerability in their areas, allowing them to integrate climate considerations into development planning and design more targeted adaptation actions.
In 2024, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), supported the government in updating SIDIK to align with international guidance and strengthen its technical capacity. The upgraded system now includes 40 reformulated indicators and uses geospatial technology to map vulnerability and potential climate impacts across districts and cities more precisely.
An interactive dashboard allows policymakers to visualize data on climate vulnerability and potential impacts. With this information, local governments can better identify which communities are most exposed to climate risks and design development plans that respond to those realities.
The system also places greater emphasis on inclusive data. SIDIK incorporates indicators that capture the vulnerability of groups that are often disproportionately affected by climate change, including women, persons with disabilities, children, and older people. This helps ensure that adaptation planning reflects the needs of the most vulnerable members of society.
Another important improvement is SIDIK’s ability to track progress over time. Using standardized indicators and time-series data, the system allows governments to monitor changes in vulnerability annually. This will support Indonesia’s readiness to report progress toward the Belém Adaptation Indicators by 2030.
Strengthening local capacity and testing solutions on the ground
For systems like SIDIK to be effective, institutions must have the capacity to use the data they generate. To accelerate the adoption of the updated platform, the Ministry of Environment and UNDP have conducted capacity-building programs for both national and sub-national government institutions. These trainings support officials in analyzing climate risks and integrating the findings into planning processes.
A pilot initiative in Wakatobi Regency tested how the updated system can be applied at the local level. Wakatobi’s archipelagic landscape and strong reliance on coastal ecosystems make it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels and ecosystem degradation. These characteristics make the district well suited for ecosystem-based vulnerability assessments, which consider both environmental conditions and community livelihoods.
For local officials, the training offered practical insights into how climate vulnerability is assessed and addressed.
“Amid the uncertain impacts of climate change, Wakatobi as an archipelagic district must prepare to adapt,” explained Nur Baitin from the Wakatobi District Office of Environment. “Through SIDIK, we learned that climate vulnerability is associated with three components—exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Strengthening adaptive capacity while reducing sensitivity will be essential for our region.”
Participants also noted how the system can support practical decision-making. La Ode Jainudin Araf from the District Office of Public Works shared that the knowledge gained from the training is particularly relevant for infrastructure planning, water resource management, disaster risk reduction, and spatial planning.
Meanwhile, Sariadin from the Local Development Planning Agency highlighted the usability of the platform. “The system makes it easier for us to formulate adaptation targets, and the interface allows us to update the data independently,” he said.
Strengthening climate information systems for a resilient future
While SIDIK represents significant progress, strengthening climate resilience requires continued improvement in the broader climate information ecosystem. Although SIDIK provides strong data on vulnerability and potential impacts, a full understanding of climate risk also requires detailed information on climate hazards, such as extreme weather events, flooding, or drought.
At present, linking vulnerability data with hazard data still requires manual processes due to gaps in the existing climate data ecosystem. Strengthening these connections will be important to ensure more comprehensive climate risk assessments.
Another priority is improving interoperability between SIDIK and other climate and adaptation information systems in Indonesia. Greater integration would allow different platforms to exchange data seamlessly, improving coordination and enabling more efficient and evidence-based adaptation planning.
Despite these challenges, SIDIK represents an important step forward. By equipping national and local governments with better tools to understand climate risks, Indonesia is strengthening its ability to translate climate information into concrete actions.
More importantly, systems like SIDIK help ensure that adaptation efforts remain grounded in the realities faced by communities on the ground. By connecting national climate goals with local knowledge and action, Indonesia is building the foundations for a future where development is not only sustainable, but also resilient for both people and the planet.