UNAIR NEWS The climate crisis and global well-being were the primary focus of AMORA: Airlangga SDGs School x SDGs Ambassador 2025, a program hosted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Center at (UNAIR). Held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Bayu Kinara Room in UNAIR檚 Airlangga Convention Center, the event featured Professor Zeef Bohbot from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, as the keynote speaker.
Needs vs. wants
During his lecture, Prof. Bohbot cited the 1987 Brundtland Report, which defines sustainable development as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. He emphasized that in today檚 society, the line between genuine needs and consumer-driven wants has become increasingly blurred. He urged attendees to critically examine the concept of 渘eeds and how it influences sustainable behavior.
淩eplacing electronics, buying new cars, and overconsumption are often labeled as necessities, when in reality, they reflect social status, he explained.
Planetary boundaries and climate change
Prof. Bohbot presented current data on climate change, stating that the Earth檚 average temperature has risen by 1.4掳C, nearing the 1.5掳C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. In some regions, such as Scandinavia, temperatures have already surged by 4掳C.
淚t檚 highly unlikely that we檒l stay below the 1.5掳C target, he said.
Despite technological advancements in renewable energy, he pointed out that 78 percent of global energy consumption still comes from non-renewable sources. He introduced the concept of planetary boundaries, developed by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, which outlines nine environmental limits攊ncluding climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation攖hat are essential for maintaining a safe operating space for humanity.
淢any of these boundaries have already been crossed. We are now in a danger zone for human survival, he warned.
Students as agents of change
Known for his clear, data-backed presentation style, Prof. Bohbot called on students not just to understand the challenges posed by the climate crisis but to actively contribute to the solutions. He stressed that the current generation holds significant responsibility for environmental degradation and must lead the effort to reverse the damage.
淲e are the generation that created much of this crisis. It is our duty to be the ones to fix it, he stated.
Through this initiative, UNAIR continues to affirm its role as a higher education institution committed to producing future leaders who are informed, responsible, and engaged in addressing global issues. AMORA offers more than academic insight攊t also encourages students to reflect on their role in creating a more sustainable future.
Author: Ameyliarti Bunga Lestari
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
