Climate Change Means Indonesia at Higher Risk of Natural Disasters

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Worsening climate change will have Indonesia facing an increasingly significant disaster risk.

Doni Monardo, Head of the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), has called on Indonesians to increase their literacy on disaster literacy to better prepare for incoming extreme weather.

Doni added that the World Bank lists Indonesia as one of 35 countries that are at high risk of facing natural disasters.

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“Going forward, we have to improve our capability and knowledge about disasters,” he said.

Indonesia’s rich natural surroundings expose the country to the numerous impacts of climate change.

Doni said that BNPB has divided regions across Indonesia into different disaster risk clusters.

The first of which is the geology and volcanology cluster given that Indonesia is home to over 500 volcanoes including 127 active volcanoes, three of which have erupted and changed the course of mankind.

“We have nearly 300 tectonic plates including in Jakarta and its surroundings.”

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The second disaster risk cluster is on hydrometeorology in which the impact on Indonesia will worsen in line with more frequent forest and land fires.

The global effects of climate change have affected residents throughout Indonesia, who have had to battle extreme flooding, abrasions, tornadoes, and landslides.

“Natural phenomena can result in a high number of casualties,” Doni said.

BNPB’s final cluster is on pandemics and damages resulting from human involvement.

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The island of Java fell victim to irresponsible human involvement where the extraction of groundwater has led to widespread subsidence across many parts of Indonesia’s economically important island.

“This exemplifies we must all preserve and protect our environment if we seek to realize 'Indonesia Golden Generation 2045',” said Doni.

(Writer: Sania Mashabi | Editor: Krisiandi)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/10/28/15123281/ri-negara-risiko-tinggi-bnpb-minta-masyarakat-tingkatkan-literasi