PELAKITA.ID – Climate change poses significant challenges for Indonesia, given its geographical, social, and economic context.
Here are the major issues related to climate change in Indonesia:
Rising Sea Levels in the first issues. Indonesia is an archipelago with over 17,000 islands, and many of its coastal areas and islands are vulnerable to rising sea levels. Coastal communities face flooding, erosion, and loss of land, with cities like Jakarta sinking rapidly due to subsidence and rising seas.
Deforestation and Land Degradation. Problem: Indonesia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world due to logging, palm oil plantations, and mining. Impact: Loss of forests reduces carbon sinks, exacerbates carbon emissions, and contributes to biodiversity loss, while also increasing the risk of wildfires.
Forest Fires and Haze. Problem: Peatland fires, often started for land clearing, release significant greenhouse gases and create toxic haze. This affects air quality across Indonesia and neighboring countries, causing health and economic problems.
The fourth issues is extreme Weather Events. Increased intensity and frequency of floods, droughts, and storms due to changing weather patterns. Flooding damages infrastructure, displaces communities, and disrupts agriculture, while droughts threaten water availability and food security.
Coral Bleaching and Ocean Health. Problem: Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification harm marine ecosystems, including coral reefs. Its impact on coral bleaching threatens fisheries and tourism, with repercussions for livelihoods in coastal communities.
Impacts on Agriculture Shifts in rainfall patterns and prolonged dry seasons affect crop yields. Farmers face reduced productivity, leading to food insecurity and economic challenges in rural areas.
Loss of Biodiversity. Climate change alters habitats, affecting Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, including endemic species. Ecosystems are disrupted, leading to imbalances that affect both wildlife and human communities.
Urban Vulnerabilities. Cities like Jakarta face a combination of issues, including flooding, heat waves, and pollution. Urban populations are increasingly exposed to health risks, reduced quality of life, and economic losses.
Economic Costs. Climate-related disasters and environmental changes incur significant costs for mitigation, adaptation, and recovery. The strain on government resources and communities hinders long-term development goals.
Health Challenges. Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns lead to an increase in diseases like dengue and malaria. Public health systems are under pressure to address these emerging threats.
Displacement and Climate Migration. Rising seas, natural disasters, and land loss force communities to relocate. Climate migration creates social, economic, and political challenges, particularly for already vulnerable populations.
What to do?
Steps Indonesia is Taking Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to renewable energy and restoring degraded lands.
Mangrove and Peatland Restoration. Efforts to rehabilitate these critical ecosystems as natural carbon sinks. Jakarta’s Relocation. There is a plan to move the capital to Nusantara to address urban and climate challenges.
Renewable Energy Projects: Investments in solar, wind, and geothermal energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
On the ground, community resilience is needed. Mitigation and adaptation program is encouraged by involving villagers or community to part of the program.
Despite these efforts, effective implementation and international collaboration are critical to addressing climate change in Indonesia.
