Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The relocation of Indonesia’s capital from Jakarta to Nusantara, on the island of Kalimantan, has garnered global attention including remarks from U.S. President Joe Biden.
In a 2021 speech at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Biden raised concerns about Jakarta’s future, citing the city’s vulnerability to climate change.
Biden emphasized that rising sea levels, driven by global climate change, could lead to millions of people worldwide being displaced.
He warned that if sea levels continue to rise, Jakarta could be underwater within a decade, making the decision to move the capital timely and crucial.
“What happens in Indonesia if the projections are correct, and in the next 10 years, they may have to move their capital because they will be underwater?” Biden said.
His comments align with warnings from NASA, which has been closely monitoring the effects of climate change on coastal cities like Jakarta.
According to NASA, rising global temperatures and melting ice caps have caused sea levels to rise by an average of 3.3 millimeters per year. Jakarta, a city built on soft soil and sitting below sea level, is particularly vulnerable to flooding, a problem exacerbated by the city’s rapid urban expansion, deforestation, and poor drainage infrastructure.
In the 1990s, flooding was already a significant issue in Jakarta, but by 2007, 70% of the city was submerged during a major flood event.
NASA’s Landsat images also reveal that over the past three decades, deforestation along rivers like the Ciliwung and Cisadane has worsened the city’s flooding risks.
As Jakarta’s population doubled between 1990 and 2020, more people now live in flood-prone areas, heightening the impact of climate-related disasters.
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NASA warns that, without significant mitigation efforts, major cities like Jakarta will continue to face rising sea levels, turning flooding into a “new normal.” The relocation to Nusantara is seen by many as a forward-thinking response to these growing environmental threats.
(Ray)
