Surabaya – Universitas Airlangga once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting global sustainability issues through the implementation of ASEM Day 2026 on 23 April 2026. The annual event, which brings together countries from Asia and Europe, carried the theme “One Planet, Infinite Responsibility: Igniting Water, Climate, and Ecosystem Action for the Future We Share” in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia through the Directorate of KSIA Amerop (Intra- and Inter-Regional Cooperation for America and Europe). As part of the event series, a student from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine (FPK) Universitas Airlangga, Shakira Desifa Arditya from the Fisheries Product Technology Study Program, successfully achieved 3rd Place in the Short Movie Competition through her creative work highlighting environmental degradation and climate change issues.
ASEM Day 2026 featured various educational and inspiring activities ranging from seminars to interactive talk shows involving environmental figures and communities such as Pandawara Group, 4GoodThings, and The Sanitizers Indonesia. Through these sessions, participants were encouraged to understand the importance of taking concrete environmental actions while building collective awareness regarding global challenges related to climate change, pollution, and ecosystem sustainability. The event became a platform for young generations to actively participate in sustainability discussions and strengthen international collaboration in addressing environmental concerns.
Shakira’s achievement became one of the proud accomplishments for FPK UNAIR. In the short film she presented, she highlighted issues such as deforestation, forest fires, and floods occurring in Sumatra and Aceh as real reflections of the impacts of environmental destruction on communities and ecosystems. Through an emotional and reflective visual approach, the film delivered a powerful message that environmental crises are no longer future threats, but urgent realities currently faced by society and requiring immediate collective action. Her work successfully captured the attention of the judges by combining environmental advocacy with creative storytelling capable of raising public awareness regarding ecological sustainability.
The short movie also strongly aligned with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation through the importance of maintaining environmental quality and water resources, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through efforts to create safer and more sustainable living environments, SDG 13: Climate Action by increasing awareness of climate change impacts, and SDG 15: Life on Land emphasizing the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity conservation. Through this creative contribution, students demonstrated their role not only as competition participants, but also as agents of change capable of promoting environmental awareness through innovative media approaches.
As a form of appreciation for the competition winners, the organizers conducted a sustainability trip attended by international delegates, representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SDGs Center UNAIR, and competition winners including Shakira Desifa Arditya. The field trip began with a visit to PSEL Benowo Surabaya, where participants observed firsthand the waste-to-energy technology process that converts waste into electrical energy. This innovation became an example of environmentally friendly technology implementation in supporting sustainable urban development and responsible waste management systems.
The journey continued to the Wonorejo Mangrove Ecotourism area, known as one of Surabaya’s important coastal conservation zones. At the site, participants received education regarding the ecological functions of mangrove ecosystems in absorbing carbon, preventing coastal abrasion, and maintaining the balance of marine and coastal ecosystems. In addition to theoretical learning, participants also directly engaged in mangrove planting activities as a tangible action supporting coastal environmental conservation and ecosystem rehabilitation. This experience provided participants with practical insights into the importance of preserving coastal ecosystems amidst ongoing global climate challenges.
Through ASEM Day 2026, Universitas Airlangga not only provided an academic discussion platform regarding sustainability issues, but also offered participants direct experiences in understanding environmental challenges through collaborative and educational actions. The event simultaneously reflected the active role of FPK UNAIR students in voicing global environmental concerns through creativity, innovation, and meaningful contributions toward a more sustainable future.
Writer : Shakira Desifa Arditya
Editor : FBM
