Surabaya's Climate Struggle: Adapting to Rising Seas

Surabaya, one of Indonesia's biggest coastal cities, faces serious problems due to climate change, like rising sea levels and frequent flooding. While there have been efforts to adapt, many issues remain. A study called Progress and Gaps in Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Cities Across the Globe by Mia Wannewitz, Idowu Ajibade, and others (2024) highlights the progress made around the world and shows where cities like Surabaya still need to improve.

Surabaya is growing fast, but this growth also makes it vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels have led to regular flooding, especially in low-lying coastal areas. The city has taken steps to address these issues, like improving drainage systems and planting mangroves to protect the coast. These actions match the solutions suggested in the study by Wannewitz et al. (2024), which says that using nature to fight climate change is important for cities.

However, the study also points out that cities like Surabaya face big challenges when trying to plan for the long term. A major problem is that there is not enough money for large projects that could help prevent climate risks. According to the study, a lack of funds often stops local governments from investing in strong, lasting solutions. In Surabaya, this means that building seawalls and updating city planning to deal with climate change is taking longer than it should.

In an interview, Keiko Nabila, a student at Universitas Airlangga, shared her thoughts on the effects of climate change in Surabaya. “Flooding has become a regular problem, especially during the rainy season. It affects everyday life, like transportation and even our health,” she said. keiko spoke about how the people around her struggling to deal with these changes, especially in areas with poor drainage systems. “The government has made some improvements, but it feels like we’re just catching up with the problem, not solving it.” Keiko said.

The study by Wannewitz et al. (2024) also mentions that many coastal cities, including Surabaya, need better community awareness and involvement. In Surabaya, many people don't understand the risks of climate change or how they can help with local efforts. This lack of awareness can hurt projects like planting mangroves, which need community support to succeed. Keiko's comments echo this finding, as she noted that many residents don’t know what they can do to help reduce the impacts of climate change, like keeping drainage systems clean.

Even with these challenges, Surabaya is trying to adapt to climate change, and city leaders are starting to understand how urgent the problem is. According to the study, good adaptation plans need support from both the government and the community, along with investments in things like infrastructure. Surabaya’s current projects, even though they are limited by a lack of money, show that the city is taking steps in the right direction.

Surabaya’s effort to adapt to climate change is similar to the challenges many coastal cities around the world face, as highlighted by the study from Wannewitz et al. (2024). While the city has made progress through better infrastructure and nature-based solutions, there are still gaps in funding and public involvement. Fixing these issues will be crucial for Surabaya to become a more resilient city that can handle the increasing threats of climate change. As Keiko’s interview shows, the effects of climate change are already a part of daily life in the city, making it even more important for Surabaya to find effective and inclusive ways to adapt.

References: Wannewitz, M., Ajibade, I., The Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative Team, & Garschagen, M. (2024). Progress and gaps in climate change adaptation in coastal cities across the globe. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-024-00106-9