Depok, 4 December 2025 – Dr. Sonny Mumbunan, Head of the Master of Public Policy (MPP) in Climate Change program at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), has returned from the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. At this climate conference, Indonesia has pledged $1 billion to the newly launched Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), a global fund dedicated to protecting the world’s remaining tropical rainforests.

Representing the Republic of Indonesia as part of the official delegation – a role he has held since COP18 in Doha in 2012 – Dr. Sonny was actively involved in high-level side events focused on forest finance and equitable climate policy. The TFFF, endorsed by 66 tropical forest nations by the close of the summit, has already mobilized $6.7 billion in pledges, including matching $1 billion commitments from Brazil and Indonesia, respectively, $3 billion from Norway, and substantial contributions from Germany and France.

Speaking from Belém, Dr. Sonny emphasized the broader significance of the outcome: “This facility marks a turning point. For the first time, tropical forest countries are co-leading the financing architecture rather than simply receiving funds. Indonesia’s sent signal to commit as a major rainforest nation and shape solutions that work for the global forests in and for the Global South.”

The MPP in Climate Change at UIII, arguably the world’s first graduate program of its kind designed specifically by and for the Global South, received direct recognition during COP30 sessions on forests organized by the United Nations organization. Dr. Sonny highlighted how the curriculum, research at the UIII Climate Policy Lab, and partnerships with institutions such as the University of Indonesia’s Center for Climate and Sustainable Finance (CCSF) are producing policy experts capable of representing Indonesia effectively on the global stage.

“COP30 showed that technical expertise combined with an understanding of justice and equity is now indispensable,” he said. “Our students and alumni are already contributing to national positions on REDD+, carbon markets, and just transition. Their voices will only grow stronger.”

Despite progress on forests and a COP30 decision to work toward $1.3 trillion in annual climate finance by 2035 and triple adaptation funding by the same year, the summit stopped short of agreeing on an explicit fossil fuel phase-out roadmap, a gap Dr. Sonny described as “a challenge we will carry forward to COP31.”

Rector of UIII, Prof. Jamhari, welcomed the outcome. “Dr. Sonny’s leadership at COP30 demonstrates the real-world impact of UIII’s mission to produce globally engaged scholars rooted in values and perspectives from the Global South. His contribution in this area is a proud moment for the entire UIII community.”

The MPP program under his leadership is broadening its master’s program. Beginning in 2026, the MPP program at UIII will introduce a new specialization: the MPP in Climate-related Disasters and Resilience. This forward-thinking program, collaboratively developed with the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle climate-induced disasters and enhance societal resilience.

Applications for this new and innovative MPP specializing in climate-related disasters and resilience are now being accepted and will remain open until March 31, 2026.

For more information about the MPP in Climate Change at UIII, visit https://soc.uiii.ac.id/ma-public-policy-climate-change/