Australia, Indonesia Launch Sea-Level Assessment as Sea Rise Threatens Economy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta — Australia and Indonesia have stepped up cooperation on climate adaptation with the launch of a new data-driven assessment of the socio-economic impacts of sea-level rise, a book called "Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Socio-Economic Impacts for Adaptive Development Planning." At the “National Policy Dialogue on Sea Level Rise” event in Jakarta on Monday, July 13, 2026, Indonesia's National Development Planning Minister, Rahmat Pambudi warned that the country's industrial and economic core is increasingly vulnerable to coastal flooding.

The initiative, supported by Australia and Indonesia's National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas), includes a new analysis produced through the SEPAKAT, a collaborative planning and integrated data platform. The platform is to help policymakers identify communities and infrastructure most at risk from rising seas.

Minister Pambudi said climate change has become an immediate development challenge rather than a distant environmental concern. He warned that the country's north coast of Java, home to much of Indonesia's manufacturing base, faces mounting risks from sea-level rise and land subsidence.

"Our deputy reminded us that more than 60% of our GDP is generated on Java, more than 70% is in northern Java, and more than 26% is in the Greater Jakarta area. If those areas are inundated, our GDP will automatically be affected. It is not only people who will be affected, but our economy as well," Rahmat said.

He added that around 60% of Indonesia's industries are located along Java's northern coast, making climate adaptation a national economic priority. Rahmat also said climate vulnerability extends well beyond physical infrastructure, but also social infrastructure, public services, such as hospitals, educational facilities, and social services, to improve the well-being of the community.

At the same event, Australia's Acting Deputy Head of Mission to Indonesia, Tim Stapleton, said the two countries were working together to strengthen evidence-based climate planning.

"Australia welcomes the launch of the book Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Socio-Economic Impacts for Adaptive Development Planning. The book is an important contribution to strengthening the knowledge base for climate-adaptive and more inclusive development planning," he said.

Stapleton said Australia was supporting Indonesia through programs that strengthen data-driven planning, sustainable infrastructure and climate resilience. "Sea-level rise cannot be viewed only as an environmental issue. It is also a development issue," he said, noting the impacts extend to housing, livelihoods, education, health care, transport, energy and social protection.