We know that climate change is one of the most dangerous global disasters facing humanity this century. Jakarta has become one of the cities beginning to sink at a faster rate than other cities in the rest of the world. According to experts, it is estimated that a third of the population could be submerged by 2050 if current rates of sea level rise continue. Therefore, it is almost certain that Jakarta sinks.
In this article, we are going to tell you what are the consequences of climate change that negatively affect sea level rise and why Jakarta is sinking.
Why is Jakarta sinking?
We know that climate change is increasing average temperatures across the planet due to global warming. Decades of fossil fuel depletion and overuse of groundwater reserves, as well as rising sea levels and weather patterns, are increasingly taking their toll on coastal areas. Several areas in East Jakarta appear to be disappearing due to rising sea levels.
Keep in mind that Jakarta is built in an earthquake zone with a swampy land. In this area 13 rivers meet at the confluence, so the soil is more vulnerable. Added to this is heavy traffic, a large population, and poor urban planning. Jakarta is sinking because it lacks a piped water system in the far north, so local industry and millions of other residents rely on underground aquifers. This problem is similar to that in the northeastern region. Java Sea.
The exploitation of these underground aquifers is already having some of the effects that are causing Jakarta to sink. If we extract groundwater unchecked, we will be causing the soil to lose its support. The earth's surface would be subsiding due to the lack of a support that can bear its weight. Therefore, unchecked and large-scale water extraction causes the land to sink. This causes Jakarta is sinking up to 25 centimeters a year in some areas where it is most vulnerable.. These subsidence values are twice the world average for major coastal cities.
Problems
We are aware that some parts of Jakarta are about 4 meters below sea level. This irrevocably changes the landscape and leaves millions of people vulnerable to various natural disasters. Considering that climate change is causing the melting of glaciers around the world, sea levels will rise over the years. The more time passes, the more problems there will be, and Jakarta will sink.
Faced with such a situation, floods become more common, especially during the wet season of the tropical nation. Forecasts estimate that the consequences of floods worsen as sea levels rise due to global warmingThe lower the land is relative to sea level and the higher the sea level rises, the greater the consequences and the more dangerous they will be. Not only will the economy be disrupted, but a forced exodus of the population to inland areas will be necessary.
There are areas of Jakarta that have been occupied due to rising sea levels, which has caused subsidence in some areas of the city.
Jakarta sinks and possible remedies
Among the remedies proposed to alleviate this situation is the approval of a plan to build artificial islands in Jakarta Bay. These islands would act as a kind of buffer against the Java Sea and reduce the abrupt rise in sea level. The construction of a vast coastal wall has also been proposed. However, given this situation, there is no guarantee that the project estimated at $100 million will be successful. a budget of 40 billion dollars can solve the problems of the collapse of the city.
We know Jakarta is sinking, yet this project has been delayed for years, making construction even more complicated. Building barriers to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels has been attempted before. A concrete wall was built along the coast in the Rasdi district and several other high-risk areas. However, these walls have already cracked and are showing signs of subsidence. Water has not been prevented from seeping in and starting to form cracks. Water seeps through these walls and soaks the entire maze of narrow streets and shacks in the city's poorest neighborhoods. All of this results in a lack of hygiene and budget.
Since existing environmental measures have had little impact, authorities are seeking other, more drastic measures. The measure is that the nation must seek another new capital. The location could be announced imminently, the safest being the transfer of the entire city to the island of Borneo.
It is quite a challenge to relocate the administrative and political heart of the country, but it can serve as an act of national preservation. Keep in mind that this plan is risky and sounds like the death of Jakarta.
Sinking cities
Not only is Jakarta sinking, but there are other urban centers as well. Throughout the world there are coastal cities with a high degree of vulnerability to sea level problems and climate change. Cities ranging from Venice and Shanghai, to New Orleans and Bangkok. All of these cities are at risk of subsidence, but it's worth noting that Jakarta has done very little to address this problem.
Let's not forget that climate change not only increases sea levels, but also the frequency and intensity of tropical storms, which can cause even greater disasters in coastal cities.