Group Photo After the Award Ceremony for Dr. (H.C.) Ir. Hj. Tri Rismaharini, M.T. (Mayor of Surabaya, 2010–2020), Prof. Ir. Joni Hermana, M.Sc.ES., Ph.D., (Rector of ITS, 2015–2019), and Danar Guruh Pratomo, ST, MT, Ph.D.

SURABAYA, June 8, 2026 – Any discussion of Surabaya’s transformation cannot be separated from its green open spaces and the leader who designed them. Highlighting this essence, the ITS Library successfully hosted a book launch for the monumental work by the Mayor of Surabaya for the 2010–2020 term, Dr. (H.C) Ir. Hj. Tri Rismaharini, M.T., titled “KOTA HIJAU dalam dimensi inovasi dan manusia” on Monday (June 8).

The event, held at the Creative Co-Working Space (CCWS) at the ITS Library, drew tremendous enthusiasm from both the ITS academic community and the general public. A total of 185 participants took part in the discussion, with 91 attending in person (offline) and filling the CCWS space, and 94 joining online.

The discussion was moderated interactively by Danar Guruh Pratomo, ST, MT, Ph.D. (Head of the SDGs and Smart Eco Campus Unit at ITS). Meanwhile, the keynote speaker was Prof. Ir. Joni Hermana, M.Sc.ES., Ph.D., an expert in environmental engineering and the Rector of ITS from 2015 to 2019.

Tracking the Origins of Books Written by Alumni

This 92-page book, published by ITS Press, holds special historical significance for the university, whose emblem features a hero. The book was originally published in conjunction with ITS’s conferral of an honorary doctorate (Dr. H.C.) on Tri Rismaharini, who is also an alumna of ITS’s Department of Architecture and Master’s Program in Urban Development Management.

The central theme of this book focuses on the creation of a “human-centered green city” through the development of green open spaces (GOS). Here, GOS do not merely fulfill ecological, socio-cultural, aesthetic, and economic functions; rather, they are innovatively designed to promote positive behavioral changes and the economic well-being of residents.

Innovation Success Stories: The Human Side of Poverty and Floods

During the discussion session, several interesting insights emerged regarding the implementation of the green city concept. When Surabaya faced issues of poverty and flooding, the policies adopted were based on research and an understanding of urban psychology.

To combat poverty, villagers were provided with vegetable seeds developed through research that are highly resilient in hot climates. Rather than merely reducing household food expenses, this urban farming program generated a massive surplus. Through careful coordination of planting schedules across villages, the harvest successfully supplied the needs of hotels in Surabaya, generating revenue of up to Rp7 million per village per harvest.

From an ecological and psychological perspective, the development of numerous active parks—such as Bungkul Park, which became the world’s first park to feature Wi-Fi facilities for teenagers, walking paths for the elderly, and its iconic Tabebuya trees—has not only succeeded in lowering the city’s temperature by 2 degrees Celsius but also minimized flooding through the absorption capacity of tree roots. Moreover, the city’s beauty psychologically helps soothe residents’ emotions on the streets, boost work productivity, and attract tourists to drive the local circular economy through initiatives like Surabaya Green and Clean, Bank Sampah Mandiri, and the Neighborhood Compost House. Surabaya has also successfully won numerous global awards, including the UN’s Livable City Award, the Global Green City Award, and a Special Mention at the 2018 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize.

A Critical Perspective by Prof. Joni Hermana: Challenges on the Path to a Modern Green City

Although this book highlights the remarkable success of the city park’s revitalization and the emotional commitment of its leader, Prof. Joni Hermana provided a critical and balanced academic analysis in his presentation. He raised several key points regarding areas for improvement in both the book’s content and Surabaya’s urban planning:

1. Limitations of the Study’s Focus: Prof. Joni points out that the book’s focus on “Green Cities” is still heavily dominated by discussions of parks and open green spaces (visual aesthetics). In fact, the indicators of the Modern Green City Theory and the Asian Green City Index cover far broader aspects, such as land use, air quality, sanitation, and the energy efficiency of low-carbon buildings.
2. The Weakest Link: Sustainable Transportation: The public transportation sector is still considered the biggest challenge for Surabaya’s green ecosystem. Although there are creative innovations such as the Suroboyo Bus, which utilizes a plastic bottle exchange system, the city still faces a prioritization imbalance due to the high allocation of funds to infrastructure development. As a result, the growth in private vehicles continues to outpace road capacity, causing traffic congestion and limiting walkability for pedestrians and cyclists.
3. A Warning Against Green Capitalism: Academic studies highlight the risks of the commodification of urban ecology. The image of beautiful green parks has the potential to attract elite real estate investment, driving up land values. Therefore, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining inclusivity so that public parks remain equally accessible to all segments of society, including lower-income groups.

ITS Library’s Commitment to Literacy

As the organizer, the ITS Library hopes this event will serve as a space for sharing knowledge and inspiration among the academic community and the general public. Through this book discussion, participants will not only gain an understanding of the concept of a green city, but also see how an idea can be translated into policies that provide tangible benefits for the environment and society.