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fficials and scientists have warned that if the government does nothing to fight global warming, some 2,000 of the country’s 13,400 islands will be underwater by 2030.

By 2050, parts of Jakarta, including Tanjung Priok, Ancol and Indah Kapuk Beach, will be submerged, according to Indroyono Soesilo, secretary general to the Coordinating People’s Welfare Minister.

Scientists have urged the government to take stronger measures
to reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

So far, the government’s biggest effort against climate change is its REDD+ initiative, which gives the state a role in conservation and sustainable forest management.

“Forest and peat-related emissions in Indonesia make up 60 to 85 percent of our greenhouse gases,” said Agus Pratama Sari, who is part of the REDD+ Presidential Task Force.

The government has made a commitment to unilaterally reduce greenhouse gases by 26 percent by 2020 and with financial assistance from foreign donors, Indonesia can reportedly extend this goal to achieve a 41-percent reduction.

These national projects, regardless of their costs, are critical in ensuring the country’s future.

“Without government action, climate change could cause damage worth at least five percent of the nation’s output per year, or 20 percent at the very most,” researcher from the Applied Technology and Research Agency (BPPT) Rony Bishry said.

“Much of this damage could be mitigated by using just one percent of Indonesia’s annual spending,” Rony added.

Scientists have also warned that grand schemes like REDD+ have to be complemented with local grassroots projects.

The grassroots project is important given the statistics from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) which reported that 87 percent of disasters in Indonesia between 2000 and 2012 were hydro-meteorological by nature — such as floods, drought and landslides.

Villages and small communities are most vulnerable to these phenomena.

One of the most telling example was an October 2010 flood in Teluk Wondama regency in West Papua which killed 169, left 168 missing and injured 3,374.

BPPT chief scientist Iwan Tejakusuma said that because relocation of village communities with deep roots is often out of the question, the government should focus on early warning systems.

This technology has been applied in places like Malalak in Agam,
West Sumatra.

They include “Wireless Sensor Networks”, which can measure land stability, detect flash floods and minimize loss of property and human life. (png)