UI GreenCityMetric Awards 2025 in Madiun: 71 Cities and Regencies Collaborate for a More Sustainable Indonesia

Madiun, 2 October 2025 — The Universitas Indonesia (UI), through its initiative UI GreenCityMetric, officially opened the 2025 UI GreenCityMetric Awards in Madiun, East Java. This year marks a significant milestone, with 71 cities and regencies participating—an increase from 64 in 2024—demonstrating stronger regional commitment to building a sustainable Indonesia.

More than just a ranking, UI GreenCityMetric serves as a collaborative platform that brings together local governments to share best practices and drive collective progress. With six main criteria—Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste Management, Water Management, Access and Mobility, and Governance. The ranking framework not only measures sustainability performance but also encourages real transformation toward greener, more inclusive, and resilient urban development.

Dr. Vishnu Juwono, Head of UI GreenMetric, emphasized that Universitas Indonesia’s vision is to safeguard a sustainable future through various initiatives—ranging from global university rankings to city-level assessments across Indonesia. “We truly appreciate the spirit of Madiun City and its leadership for warmly hosting the 2025 UI GreenCityMetric Awards. Madiun has shown consistent commitment to sustainability, proven by its outstanding achievements in both 2024 and this year. We hope this inspires other regions to follow their example,” said Dr. Juwono.

The awarding ceremony, held at Hotel Mercure Madiun, celebrated the dedication and progress of local governments in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through concrete actions at the city and regency level. This event was held in a hybrid format, with participants joining both onsite and online via Zoom and YouTube Live streaming, reflecting UI GreenMetric’s inclusive and collaborative spirit.

Recognizing Indonesia’s Most Sustainable Cities

The top three most sustainable cities in Indonesia for 2025 exemplify strong leadership and innovation in implementing sustainability measures:

1. Surabaya City — recognized as the Most Sustainable City in Indonesia 2025 for its outstanding achievements across multiple environmental and governance criteria.

2. Madiun City — ranked second, highlighting its excellence in Access and Mobility and Waste Management.

3. Semarang City — ranked third, excelling in Governance and Setting & Infrastructure.

These cities stand as models of how local governments can integrate sustainability principles into daily urban management and policy implementation, directly contributing to Indonesia’s SDG agenda.

Alongside these top three cities—Surabaya, Madiun, and Semarang—the UI GreenCityMetric Awards 2025 also recognized other outstanding regions that made it into the Top 10 Most Sustainable Regencies and Cities in Indonesia: Medan City, Kediri City, Salatiga City, Banjarbaru, Trenggalek Regency, Wonogiri Regency, and Magelang City. Each of these regions has demonstrated exceptional commitment, innovation, and continuous improvement in implementing sustainability principles within their local development agendas.

The 1st Winners in Each Key Indicator of UI GreenCityMetric 2025

• Setting and Infrastructure: Bontang City

• Energy and Climate Change: Medan City

• Waste Management: Surabaya City

• Water Management: Medan City

• Access and Mobility: Madiun City

• Governance: Semarang City

UI GreenMetric Special Awards:

• Best Improvement in Sustainability Performance: Banjarmasin City

• Best New Participant: Malang City

A Celebration of Collaboration and Local Leadership

The UI GreenCityMetric Awards 2025 also celebrated the leadership and dedication of the Mayor of Madiun, who graciously welcomed the event, and Ir. Suwarno, M.Si, Head of Bappeda Madiun, who served as the Organizing Committee Chair alongside his exceptional local team. Their coordination and hospitality ensured the event’s success as a platform for partnership and shared learning among Indonesian regions.

During this celebration of 71 successful collaborations among regencies and cities across Indonesia, the host city invited representatives from UI GreenMetric and regional delegations to visit TPA Winongo, one of Madiun’s exemplary waste management sites. The facility showcases the city’s ongoing efforts and innovations in improving waste management systems to address urban waste challenges effectively and sustainably.

The UI GreenCityMetric Awards 2025 reaffirm the importance of city and regency governments as the frontline actors in implementing the SDGs—transforming sustainability from national policy into local action. As the initiative continues to grow, it embodies the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared learning to create a greener and more resilient Indonesia.