FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | April 25, 2025
‘Letter to Sara’: Kupang fisherwoman appeals to Prabowo’s niece and lawmaker to act on climate
Fisherwoman Yasinta Adoe writes to Prabowo’s niece and lawmaker Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo about climate impacts in her community in an online letter calling for ambitious climate action from Indonesia, one of Asia’s biggest emitters.
Kupang, Indonesia – Yasinta Yunita Adoe, a mother and fisherwoman from the coastal city of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, wrote an open letter to Member of the House of Representatives Commission VII Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo who is also a close relative to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The letter urged national policymakers to commit to a clean energy transition and an ambitious emissions reduction target in Indonesia’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC), due to be submitted before the COP30 Climate Change Conference later this year.
Surat untuk Sara, or “Letter to Sara,” a form of appeal from communities most affected by the climate crisis, was launched by 350.org Indonesia, PIKUL Foundation, Climate Rangers Jakarta, WeSpeakUp.org, and Majelis Nelayan Bersatu Kota Kupang through an online public discussion today. Rahayu Saraswati is the daughter of Indonesia’s special climate envoy, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, and niece of President Prabowo.
“I am motivated to write this letter because coastal communities like ours are the ones most affected by climate change. When Cyclone Seroja hit, my parents lost their boat and fishing gear. To this day, we have not been able to recover because there is no concrete support from the government,” said Yasinta.
The open letter was born out of Yasinta’s anxiety over the lack of protection for fisherfolk after climate-induced disasters. According to the groups, there has been no adequate policy response to advocacy efforts pushing for climate action. They highlighted the stagnation of Indonesia’s climate ambition, reflected in its weak renewable energy targets and the continued dominance of the coal industry. While the latest reports indicate that the world has generated more than 30% of its energy from renewable sources, Indonesia has only utilised less than 1% of its renewable energy potential.
“As a woman and mother, I stand with Sinta and other women and mothers to protect future generations. Letter to Sara, a form of people’s direct appeal to our country’s leaders, should be encouraged in a democracy,” said Sisilia Nurmala Dewi, 350.org Indonesia Team Lead.
“If Indonesia is to be part of the solution to the climate crisis, our renewable energy target must be tripled from what is currently set. As part of the G20, Indonesia must fulfill its commitment to ‘triple renewable energy by 2030’ and concretely move towards the energy transition. Without increasing renewable energy targets, phasing out fossil fuels, energy efficiency, and the 2050 net-zero target is just a dream. Indonesia has great renewable energy potential that has not yet been optimally utilized,” Sisilia added.
Dina Soro from PIKUL Foundation said, “Eastern Indonesia, including NTT, is at the forefront of the climate crisis. Impacts can be seen in extreme droughts, tropical storms and flash floods. We face serious challenges in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Failed harvests, damaged marine ecosystems, and the uncertainty of planting and fishing seasons show that the climate crisis is not a future threat, but a crisis that is already happening today.”
Febriani Nainggolan from Climate Rangers Jakarta said that the youth will bear the brunt of the climate crisis the longest if current policies do not change: “Young people today have the passion, courage and ability to push for just and sustainable change. We are not only demanding justice for today, but also fighting for our own future.” He added that change can start from simple things, such as organising campaigns, voicing opinions on social media, joining policy forums, and building solidarity with grassroots communities.
“Letter to Sara” is an open invitation to the wider community to sign the online letter demanding that policymakers include the voices of climate-affected communities in decision-making.
Media Contact:
- Vania, PIKUL Foundation Media Officer – 0822-3774-0412
- Ilang-Ilang Quijano, 350.org Asia Communications Manager- ilang.quijano@350.org, +639175810934
Social Media:
Instagram: @350id |@pikul_kupang |@climaterangersjakarta |@wespeakuporg