A country of stunning natural beauty and cultural diversity, Indonesia is at the forefront of the global fight against climate change. With its vast archipelago and rich ecosystem, the country is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather. This article examines the unique challenges faced by Indonesia due to climate change, economic impacts, and the urgent need for resilience and sustainable development.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns on Earth. This is mainly due to human activity releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to an increase in the average surface temperature of the Earth. This is widely known as global warming. These greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), trap heat from the sun and cause changes in the Earth's climate system.
The impacts of climate change are far-reaching and affect many aspects of the Earth system. Rising temperatures are causing polar ice sheets and glaciers to melt and sea levels to rise. This puts coastal areas at risk of flooding and erosion, threatens small island states, and endangers species-rich coastal ecosystems.
Why Does Climate Change Happen?
Climate change happens because of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. A major factor contributing to this increase is human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for power generation, transportation, and industrial processes. When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide (CO2) and some other greenhouse gases into the air.
Greenhouse gases act like a blanket, trapping the sun's heat and preventing it from returning to space. This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect and is essential for sustaining life on Earth. However, human activities have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases, leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Geographic vulnerability
Due to its geographical location, Indonesia is at high risk of exposure to climate-related hazards. The country spans over 17,000 her islands, making it the largest archipelago in the world. Coastal areas are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, threatening millions of people living in low-lying areas, including the capital Jakarta. Rising sea levels are also threatening the country's vital agricultural land and infrastructure, such as ports and roads.
In addition to rising sea levels, extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms are becoming more frequent and severe in Indonesia. These events are affecting livelihoods, damaging infrastructure, and creating significant food security challenges, especially in rural areas where agriculture is a major source of income.