The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada has once again demonstrated its academic engagement on the global stage. One of its lecturers, Dr. Novi Kurnia from the Department of Communication Science, contributed as a key resource in the development of an online course entitled “Navigating Climate Information with Media and Information Literacy”, initiated by UNESCO in collaboration with the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP).
This program was born out of deep concern over the rise of misinformation and disinformation surrounding climate change — a phenomenon that hinders global efforts to address one of the world’s most pressing threats. Climate change is often described as a crisis multiplier due to its wide-reaching and complex impacts. Through this initiative, people across the globe are equipped with critical skills to evaluate, interpret, and utilize climate-related information accurately.
By adopting the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) approach, the course empowers participants to build knowledge, attitudes, and competencies that help counter climate disinformation while fostering concrete action against the crisis. The course is free of charge, open to the public, and designed with interactive self-learning modules.
Dr. Novi’s involvement in this program underscores the important role of Indonesian scholars, particularly from FISIPOL UGM, in responding to global challenges. At the same time, it aligns with UNESCO’s Global Roadmap for Information as a Public Good in the Face of the Climate Crisis, while also advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
FISIPOL UGM hopes that this contribution will inspire its academic community to continue engaging at the global level, creating meaningful impact for science, policy, and the shared future of a sustainable planet.
The full online course can be accessed through the following link.