Recently, Indonesian parliament endorsed relocating its capital from Jakarta, which is gradually sinking due to rising sea levels, to a different site located 2,000 kilometres away on Borneo island. The site will be named “Nusantara”. This decision was first proposed by President Joko Widodo in April 2019. He pointed out the rapidly increasing sea levels and extreme congestion in Java Island where Jakarta is situated.
Jakarta has hosted Indonesia’s administration, governance, finance and trade since the country gained independence in 1949. Its position as the center of these activities inevitably led to ceaseless construction, affecting the city’s natural water absorption, causing increased runoff, and contributing to its severe flooding problem.
The city, which covers an area of more than 661.5 square kilometres, has a population of over 30 million people mainly in its metro area. In recent decades, it has become exceedingly crowded and polluted. Additionally, the relocation has been influenced by the widening financial and social disparities in Java Island.
Relocation Site: Nusantara, The New Capital
The new capital, Nusantara, will span about 56,180 hectares in East Kalimantan province, on the Indonesian part of Borneo, which Indonesia shares with Malaysia and Brunei. Although the new location is significantly larger than Jakarta and less populated, critics warn that the move could disrupt local ecosystems, already under threat from mining and palm oil plantations.
It is worth noting that this relocation follows similar moves from other regionally overpopulated capitals. Malaysia relocated its government from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya in 2003, as did Myanmar moving its capital from Rangoon to Naypyidaw in 2006.
Understanding Sea Level Rise (SLR)
SLR is a global increase in ocean levels resulting from climate change, particularly global warming. It is primarily induced by three factors: thermal expansion, melting glaciers, and the loss of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
Half of the sea-level rise over the past 25 years resulted from thermal expansion—water naturally expands when heated. Additionally, global warming has led to less snowfall and more than average summer melting of large ice formations, creating an imbalance between runoff and ocean evaporation. Consequently, sea levels rise. The same applies to the massive ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica, which are melting and moving into the sea faster due to increased heat.
The Consequences and Mitigation Strategies for SLR
Sea level rise has numerous challenging consequences, including coastal flooding, destruction of coastal biodiversity, storm surges, population displacement, infrastructure damage, and threats to life far from coastlines.
To mitigate these effects, several strategies have been adopted. Many coastal cities have considered relocation as a viable solution. For instance, Kiribati Island plans to relocate to Fiji, paralleling Indonesia’s plan to move Jakarta to Borneo. Other strategies involve infrastructure adjustments such as building sea walls or enclosures, or architecture designed to channel water flow.
India’s vulnerability to SLR is prominent given its extensive coastline, accounting for 90% of the country’s trade. In response, India has enacted initiatives such as Coastal Regulation Zone National Action Plan on Climate Change to confront this challenge.
