Dr. Fithriyyah Iskandar is more than just a medical doctor from Indonesia; she represents a new generation of leaders at the intersection of health, climate, and social justice. Her journey from practicing medicine to becoming a fierce advocate for environmental rights and health equity embodies a global awakening—an understanding that healing individual patients is not enough without healing the planet itself. In a region like Southeast Asia, where the effects of climate change are increasingly evident in rising temperatures, air pollution, and food insecurity, Dr. Fithriyyah’s work carries urgent significance.
Her early career as a doctor laid the foundation for a deeper understanding of how environmental degradation directly harms human health. She witnessed firsthand how climate-induced diseases and toxic environments disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, especially women and youth. This realization propelled her from clinical care into activism, broadening her mission to include structural and systemic changes. She believes passionately that environmental justice is an inseparable part of public health, and that fighting climate change means fighting for the right to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and live free from preventable diseases.
Dr. Fithriyyah’s commitment has earned her global recognition. She was honored as a UN Women 30 for 2030 awardee, celebrated for her leadership in integrating feminist perspectives into climate action, highlighting how gender inequalities amplify climate vulnerabilities. As a fellow of the Women of the South Speak Out (WOSSO), she amplifies the voices of women from the Global South in climate justice dialogues, ensuring that marginalized perspectives are not sidelined. Her involvement with the Regional Youth Parliament for Climate Action (RYPCA) under the UNDP Asia-Pacific umbrella positions her at the forefront of youth inclusion in environmental policymaking across ASEAN nations. She also holds a seat on the ASEAN Youth Forum’s Regional Executive Board, advocating for youth voices to be recognized by regional environmental rights bodies.
Beyond advocacy, Dr. Fithriyyah founded the Environmental Rights Alliance (ERA) Indonesia under the Feminist for Climate and Health Equity (FEquity) initiative. This youth-led coalition connects activists, scientists, and health professionals to push for progressive environmental legislation and gender-sensitive climate policies. Through ERA, she facilitates workshops, roundtables, and cross-sector collaborations aimed at transforming climate governance and health systems in Indonesia and beyond. She insists that “environmental rights are human rights,” underscoring the inseparability of ecological health from human dignity and well-being. Her leadership in this grassroots movement bridges local realities with global ambitions, making the fight for climate justice inclusive and actionable.
Her advocacy stands out for its intersectionality, weaving together climate, gender, health, and social justice in a framework that is both decolonial and feminist. Dr. Fithriyyah insists that climate policy must recognize the complex realities faced by marginalized communities, particularly women and indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia. Whether she is addressing international summits or mentoring youth activists in remote Indonesian villages, her message is consistent: inclusive governance, protection for environmental defenders, climate-related health recognition, education on environmental justice, and gender equity are non-negotiable pillars of a just climate future.
Looking ahead, Dr. Fithriyyah envisions an Asia where climate resilience is built from the grassroots up, led by empowered youth, women, and indigenous leaders. She sees a future where health equity is not an ideal but a lived reality for every community, grounded in justice, science, and compassion. Her dream is a planet where clean air and water, climate stability, and social equity are guaranteed rights, not privileges.
In today’s urgent climate landscape, where the consequences of inaction are devastating communities worldwide, Dr. Fithriyyah Iskandar’s work serves as a powerful beacon of hope and pragmatic change. Her unique blend of medical expertise, activist leadership, and feminist theory challenges conventional approaches and inspires new pathways toward a healthier planet and fairer societies. From the heart of Indonesia to the global stage, she embodies the essential truth that young leaders are not just the future—they are the decisive voices shaping climate justice now.
As awareness grows about the intertwined crises of climate and health, Dr. Fithriyyah’s holistic approach will continue to influence policies, empower communities, and shape the urgent global dialogue on environmental rights and health equity.
