Rising Sea Levels Meets A Sinking Jakarta: Is There Hope?

Since the time of Dutch colonization in the Republic of Indonesia, sea levels have increasingly become a problem. Global sea level rise should not be ignored because it increases the erosion of coastal cities and the flooding of agriculture, which is critical for nations that depend on agriculture exportation. The impact on ocean currents can lead to more hurricanes and tropical storms; for the Republic of Indonesia, this could mean the loss of islands and resources. The impact of climate change is real, so much so that the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, is relocating. In 2019, it was announced that the capital would be moving to a forest location in Borneo.

In total, about 40 percent of Jakarta is below sea level. This is a problem that the government has been pondering. As mentioned above, the Republic of Indonesia has noticed these concerns with the sea level rising, especially in the community of Muara Baru, which experiences severe flooding. In 2002, the government realized this crisis and built a coastal wall. However, five years later, in 2007, Jakarta experienced one of the worst floods in its history. It claimed 80 lives and cost hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Building coastal walls remains inadequate against the continuous rise of sea levels. The government of Indonesia has done a number of things to combat the issue of climate change, such as: allocating green open space; taxing groundwater; signing global agreements; planning for sea walls; and "In 2007, after the catastrophic flood, the provincial government adopted a regulation requiring at least 30 percent of the city’s total area to be allocated to green, open space." 1 This not only helps with making a more visually appealing city, but it also creates natural sponges. However, now less than 10 percent of the area is green. It is imperative for the people and government to follow through with creating green space. This helps with flooding and can reduce carbon footprints.

The root of the problem is groundwater. While the rapidly growing population keeps draining the city’s groundwater, the poorly constructed infrastructure sinks into the swampy land, which is the base of all Jakarta’s foundations. The government has tried taxing the pumping of groundwater; however, there is an unknown number of deep wells scattered across the city, and these pumps are hidden behind closed doors. The megacity has used up 64 percent of its groundwater supply, but without anything to replenish the water, the groundwater supply decreases. Typically, groundwater aquifers are replenished by rain; however, concrete now covers the land. The water turns into a runoff, furthering the sea level rise. A ban started in August 2023, restricting buildings larger than 5,000 square meters (about 54,000 square feet) from pumping the water. The government of Indonesia has been trying to find alternatives to groundwater pumping. Alternatives would be to convert to 100% piped water; this method has worked in Tokyo, Taipei, and Bangkok to stop the land from sinking. Additionally, innovations in water desalination could be beneficial.

Another active solution is building sea walls. "Twenty kilometers of sea walls have been thrown up around Jakarta Bay in the past three years." 2 The latest project is to build a 20-mile-long artificial island in the shape of the national symbol that will not only provide protection from storm surges but also create more living space. This project is very costly. It is estimated that it will cost 20–58 billion dollars. Critics argue that what needs to be done is mangrove restoration and curtailing overpopulation in the densely populated city. As part of a global effort to reduce climate change, "Indonesia demonstrated its commitment to tackle climate change by ratifying the Paris Agreement in April 2016 through Law No. 16 of 2016. It later developed the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to reduce emissions—by 29% domestically and by a further 41% with international support—by 2030." 3 Which agrees to follow through with all the goals listed in it—most notably the carbon emissions. The government set up a carbon tax that took effect in October 2021, called Harmonisasi Peraturan Perpajakan (HPP). It is the second country in Southeast Asia to implement the tax. "The carbon tax will be levied on both individuals and corporations that purchase carbon-containing goods or engage in activities that generate carbon emissions within a specified period." 4 All of these solutions have been a huge step towards creating a greener community in Indonesia.

The Republic of Indonesia proposes a few solutions to end the climate crisis, but specifically the sea level rise. One solution would be to limit the number of residents in the megacity of Jakarta. The first step would be to encourage citizens to occupy other developing cities. This helps with many things, such as groundwater consumption, carbon pollution, and overcrowding. Then, with this empty space, mangroves will be replanted and restored. Indonesia will start placing more emphasis on forest and nature conservation. Expansion, however, comes at a cost and with a loss of resources. Another solution for groundwater pumping is to convert to 100% piped water. This method has worked in Tokyo, Taipei, and Bangkok to stop the land from sinking. Additionally, innovations in water desalination could be beneficial. In the long run, this method becomes cost-effective and better for the environment.

In a perfect world, people would care more about nature and what it has to offer. The government should create more national parks or conservation centers as another solution. All in all, sea level rise is a very critical issue that needs to be addressed. Fortunately, with today’s innovations, there are many possible solutions to combat this problem.

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1+ 2 Renaldi, Adi. "Indonesia’s Giant Capital City Is Sinking. Can the government’s plan save it?" Environment, July 29, 2022, at www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/Indonesias-giant-capital-city-is-sinking-can-the-governments-plan-save-it.