40th International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research 2023 (IAHR 2023)

Securing Water for Climate Adaptation Strategies in Indonesia’s

New Capital
Prima Nilasari, Royal HaskoningDHV, Indonesia, prima.nilasari@rhdhv.com
Andaru Katri Lasrindy, Royal HaskoningDHV, Indonesia, andaru.katri.lasrindy@rhdhv.com
Cindy Novaria Nada Karina, Royal HaskoningDHV, Indonesia, cindy.novaria.nada.karina@rhdhv.com

ABSTRACT

It is projected that by the end of 2045, 57% of the Indonesia’s population will be concentrated in Java Island.
With the current situation where Jakarta being the central economic and Capital of Indonesia, water scarcity
issue in Jakarta expected to be worsened as water demand will be substantially higher to meet future ends. To
encourage equitable development, Government of Indonesia has concluded to move the Capital City from Jakarta
to East Kalimantan, a planned city to be called Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN).

In the present age, climate change has been an inevitable consideration towards climate-resilient city. Resilience
through adaptability is key to minimize the risks. Indonesia is one of the developing countries who embarks the
climate adaptation and sustainable development agenda as a member of Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
Program – one of the commitments is to tackle the water security issue.

More than half of IKN proposed plan is within the existing forest area including the conservation and protected
ones. Despite the tropical climate where it is wet throughout the years, the ecosystem services in IKN estimated
can only provide an adequate amount of water supply. Historically, the proposed IKN area has been exposed to
multiple hazards such as floods, draught, and forest fires from coal-burning hotspots. At the same time,
Kalimantan struggles with access to WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) services. Securing the water and
limit the negative impacts on development of IKN are required to achieve the goal of becoming 10 Best Cities
according to the Global Liveability Index by 2045.

Several foreseen threats to water security on the developing city are highlighted in this study, e.g., WASH
coverage-induced water pollution, effects from sea level rise and land subsidence on coastal flooding,
groundwater over-abstraction, impact of land degradation and climate change on inland flooding and impact on
water shortages due to IKN development and how to achieve its goal by 2045. PESTEL (Political, Economic,
Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal) analysis is undertaken to acknowledge climate risks exposure,
the impactful threats and devise a strategy to analyse vulnerability of the proposed IKN master planning. The
analysis weighs the impact and risk from each PESTEL aspect. A masterplan of IKN has been developed,
establishing zonation planning in which economic and supporting clusters. A matrix assessment on optimization
measures to the water management and taking into account the lesson learnt from the current Capital City of
Indonesia is presented with the basis of three pillars: 1) managing water resources sustainability and
strengthening resilience to water threats, 2) improving the inclusivity, sustainability and efficiency of water
services and 3) strengthening governance and institutions for sustainable and efficient water management*.

*
Source: Indonesia Vision 2045: Toward Water Security, World Bank 2021