Construction is currently underway on a new city called Nusantara in Indonesia, which will serve as the new capital of the country. The decision to move the capital from Jakarta to Nusantara is due to the climate crisis, with Jakarta at risk of sinking due to rising sea levels. Jakarta, located on the northwest coast of Java, is Indonesia’s current capital and largest city, home to over 10.6 million people and about 30 million in the metropolitan area. However, about 40% of Jakarta is now below sea level.
The new city of Nusantara is being built on the eastern coast of Borneo, approximately 870 miles north of Jakarta. It is estimated that the construction of Nusantara will cost $35 billion and is expected to be completed by 2045. Despite the completion date, about 6,000 government workers are expected to move to Nusantara in time for the next president’s inauguration in October.
The decision to move the capital from Jakarta to Nusantara follows a trend of countries relocating their capitals, with Brazil moving from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960 and Nigeria moving from Lagos to Abuja in 1991. However, this is the first time the climate crisis has played a significant role in the decision-making process. Jakarta’s position as the world’s fastest-sinking megacity due to rising sea levels has prompted the Indonesian government’s decision to relocate the capital.