Knowledge Production Space for Young People in Mitigating and Adapting to the Impact of Climate Change in Surakarta City

¹ Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, 57126, Surakarta, Central Java Province, Indonesia
² Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, 57126, Surakarta, Central Java Province, Indonesia
³ Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, 57126, Surakarta, Central Java Province, Indonesia

^1* Corresponding Author: zunariyah@staff.uns.ac.id

Abstract

Young people’s engagement in the context of climate change has been recognized as essential to realizing a more equitable and sustainable future. Using Lefebvre’s theory of social space production and Castells’ concept of network society, this article studies and analyzes the ¹dynamics of young people’srole in creating knowledge production spaces to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies in dealing with the impacts of climate change. Subjects of study were young people in Surakarta City affiliated with Karang Taruna organization and taking environmental care actions actively using a participatory action research approach to explore their perspectives and experiences to produce knowledge about climate change. The results show that young people play a crucial role in the attempt of mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Young people have developed various creative strategies in dealing with climate change through innovative knowledge production spaces including digital platforms, climate village programs, waste management, food security and development of green open spaces. Young people’s attempts of creating knowledge production spaces allow them to share insights, develop innovative solutions, and build collective capacity. The sustainability of knowledge production spaces depends on access to scientific resources, stakeholder involvement, and adaptation to local values.