From process to harmony in socio-ecological leadership: Javanese ethical management for climate resilience and SDGs

Environmental challenges increasingly call for leadership approaches that strengthen climate resilience while maintaining harmony between human activities and ecological systems in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study examines Javanese ethical management as a culturally grounded framework for socio-ecological leadership using a hermeneutic interpretative analysis of rituals and practices such as bersih desa, pranata mangsa, and slametan panen. The findings conceptualize the Process–Acceptance Cycle: Nyiapke (Plan), Nglaksanake (Do), Ngudi kawruh (Reflection), and Nrima lan syukur (Acceptance), as a continuous ethical loop that prioritizes preventive sustainability by positioning nature and community as co-agents in decision-making. This study shows that this model supports adaptive capacity and climate resilience and aligns closely with SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), contributing a culturally informed perspective to global sustainability and climate resilience discourse.