In 2022, JokoWidodo, the reigning president of Indonesia, passed a law to create a new capital for his country on the island of Borneo. The choice was justified by the city’s heavy traffic, heavy pollution and rising water levels. However, the local population and NGOs are warning of possible environmental impacts during the construction of the new capital.
- The origin of the project
On 17 August, Indonesia celebrated the inauguration of Nusantara, its future capital, the result of a 32 billion dollar investment. The creation of Nusantara is a direct response to the environmental problems threatening Jakarta. This overcrowded megalopolis on the island of Java is facing increasingly frequent flooding and accelerated coastal erosion as a result of climate change. Furthermore, according to the media “Environment + Energy Leader”:
“The primary culprit behind this sinking is the excessive extraction of groundwater. Jakarta’s infrastructure was not designed to accommodate its explosive growth, leading to an inadequate piped water supply. As a result, residents and industries have resorted to illegally drilling for water, weakening the ground beneath them[1].”
Thus, Nusantara, built on more stable terrain and at a higher altitude, is designed to be a sustainable city, resilient to the challenges of climate change. It is supposed to favour renewable energies and public transport, offering a safer and greener alternative to Jakarta.
- The environnemental threats of Nusantara
The Nusantara project, although promising, is the subject of debate within the scientific and environmental community, particularly concerning its potential impact on Borneo’s biodiversity.
The island is home to some of the world’s richest tropical forests, with endangered species such as orangutans, long-nosed monkeys and clouded leopards. The construction of the new capital could, they say, accelerate deforestation and threaten these fragile ecosystems. Not to mention that the construction of Nusantara poses a major risk to the indigenous populations, who may have to leave their ancestral lands.
The Indonesian authorities assure us that « The main key to a forest city is preserving the environment. We are therefore developing the town around its original topographical contours, without making any significant changes[2].”
However, Anggi Putra Prayoga, communications manager at Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), a non-governmental environmental organisation, has already warned that « Nusantara is just another driver of deforestation. This is contrary to the green city jargon we heard a lot of times. There’s nothing green in Nusantara[3]« .
There is no doubt that the transfer of almost 1.9 million people[4] to Nusantara by 2045, according to the Indonesian authorities, will upset the demographic and economic balance of Borneo.
[1] Environment + Energy LEADER – « Jakarta’s Sinking Reality : Nusantara to take the Capital Helm in August”, published on the 17th May, 2024. Link : https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/2024/05/jakartas-sinking-reality-nusantara-to-take-the-capital-helm-in-august/
[2] Danis Sumadilaga, head of the Nusantara infrastructure-working group, in the radio programme of Franceinfo – « Le Monde est à nous », followed by an article published on the 17th August, 2024. Link : https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/le-monde-est-a-nous/cela-prend-beaucoup-de-temps-l-indonesie-inaugure-sa-nouvelle-capitale-deplacee-pour-des-raisons-environnementales_6676794.html
[3] Context – « Nusantara vs Nature : Who wins in creation of the New Indonesian capital?”, by Adi Renaldi, published on the 15th August, 2024. Link : https://www.context.news/nature/nusantara-v-nature-who-wins-in-creation-of-new-indonesia-capital
[4] L’Express – « La nouvelle capitale indonésienne, une menace sur le paradis vert de Bornéo », by AFP, published on the 6th January, 2023. Link : https://www.lexpress.fr/monde/la-nouvelle-capitale-indonesienne-une-menace-sur-le-paradis-vert-de-borneo-5KCFEZTKS5CD5J57IM25WGLFHY/
