The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of global targets initiated by the United Nations (UN) to comprehensively address various social, economic, and environmental challenges by 2030. The SDGs consist of 17 main goals, including no poverty, quality education, good health, gender equality, clean energy, decent work, and the protection of life on land and below water. Indonesia, including East Kalimantan, faces various challenges in achieving these SDG targets.
The Three Main Pillars of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Challenges in East Kalimantan
In East Kalimantan, several major challenges require serious attention to align with the SDG targets. Among them is the issue of poverty, despite East Kalimantan having a high Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP). Data from the East Kalimantan Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in 2023 shows that the poverty rate still reaches 6.41%. The open unemployment rate of 6.92% in 2023 highlights the need for more decent and equitable job opportunities. Furthermore, environmental degradation caused by industry and mining has led to approximately 2.3 million hectares of critical land. This certainly poses a significant challenge to environmental conservation efforts and the community's quality of life.
UMKT's Strategic Role
East Kalimantan's proximity to the New Capital City (IKN), which is built with the spirit of sustainable development, further strengthens the urgency to align the province's development plans with the SDGs. As one of the best universities in East Kalimantan, Muhammadiyah University of East Kalimantan (UMKT) plays a crucial role in supporting the achievement of SDGs in the province through the UMKT SDGs Unit. The UMKT SDGs Unit was established to encourage all Tri Dharma (Education, Research, and Community Service) activities within UMKT to align with sustainable development principles. The UMKT SDGs Unit also plays a vital role in supporting the implementation of SDGs in East Kalimantan, both through innovations that can provide practical solutions to local issues and by preparing a future generation that cares about sustainable development.
