Jakarta Is Sinking!

Summary

Jakarta, once a seaside city, now faces the threat of sinking due to over-extraction of groundwater and rampant urban development. The city's inadequate flood management, including clogged canals filled with garbage, exacerbates frequent flooding, affecting both the poor and the wealthy. With the city sinking up to 6 centimeters annually, drastic measures are needed to prevent millions from displacement and future 'perfect storm' scenarios that could submerge significant parts of Jakarta.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Jakarta, once known as Sunda Kelapa, is a seaside city that has grown to a population of 25 million over 500 years.
• 🏙️ The city's rapid expansion has led to environmental issues, including the city literally sinking due to over-extraction of groundwater and lack of maintenance of its flood channels.
• 🌧️ Jakarta experiences frequent flooding, with the worst in three centuries occurring in February, causing 54 deaths and nearly 1 billion dollars in damage.
• 🚜 The city's waterways are heavily polluted with garbage, reducing the capacity of flood channels by 50 to 80 percent, which exacerbates flooding.
• 🌊 Dutch water engineer General Yahya Brickman is working with the World Bank to address Jakarta's flood problems, highlighting the need for constant maintenance of the city's flood channels.
• 🏞️ Jakarta's surrounding hills, once able to absorb rainwater, have been replaced by development, increasing the runoff and strain on flood channels during heavy rains.
• 🏠 The poor living in slums alongside waterways are the most vulnerable to flooding, which disproportionately affects them.
• 💰 The World Bank is providing a 150 million dollar loan to help fix Jakarta's flood channels, indicating the scale of the problem.
• 🏢 The city's lack of effective public transport and increasing traffic congestion, along with rampant development, contribute to the city's weight, causing it to sink further.
• 🏖️ Jakarta's elites are building luxury developments, like Command Village, designed to be flood-proof, highlighting the disparity in how different social classes are affected by and respond to the city's environmental challenges.
• ⏳ Jakarta is sinking at a rate of up to 6 centimeters per year, with predictions that if no action is taken, it could be 1 meter lower in 18 years, leading to large areas becoming uninhabitable.

Q & A

What was Jakarta known as in the 16th century?

Jakarta was known as Sunda Kelapa in the 16th century.

What is the current situation of Jakarta's waterways and why are they important?

Jakarta's waterways are clogged with sediment and garbage, reducing their capacity significantly. They are crucial for flood prevention as they used to be part of a complex system of flood channels built by the Dutch to protect the city from its 13 crossing rivers.

How has the dumping of garbage into the canals affected Jakarta's flood capacity?

The dumping of garbage into the canals has reduced their capacity by 50 to 80 percent, causing the city to be more prone to flooding, which now occurs every few years instead of once every 50 years.

What role is the World Bank playing in addressing Jakarta's flood problems?

The World Bank is helping to solve Jakarta's flood problems by contracting Dutch water engineer General Yahya Brickman and providing loans of 150 million dollars to help fix Jakarta's flood channels.

What is the impact of rampant development on Jakarta's ability to handle rainfall?

Rampant development, including the construction of holiday villas on hills, has reduced the land's ability to absorb rainwater. This leads to swollen rivers, clogged with sediment and garbage, and overwhelmed flood channels during rainfall.

How does Jakarta's sinking affect its flood situation?

Jakarta's sinking, caused by groundwater extraction and the weight of urban development, pushes the city downwards, making it more susceptible to flooding even on days without rain.

What is the impact of Jakarta's lack of effective mass public transport system on the city's traffic?

The lack of an effective mass public transport system in Jakarta contributes to severe traffic congestion, with 900 extra motorcycles and 260 new cars added to the roads every day.

What measures are being taken to prevent Jakarta from sinking further?

Measures to prevent further sinking include the construction of integrated developments like Command Village, which is designed to be flood-proof, and the consideration of stopping groundwater extraction or building a massive sea wall off Jakarta's coast.

What are the consequences of not addressing Jakarta's sinking and flooding issues?

If not addressed, Jakarta could lose almost a third of its land to the sea within the next 20 years, displacing millions of people and leading to potential disasters during heavy rains and high tides.

How does the city's administration plan to tackle the issue of Jakarta's sinking?

The city's administration is considering solutions such as stopping groundwater extraction or building a massive sea wall off Jakarta's coast to prevent the city from sinking and to protect against future flooding.

What is the significance of the moon's cycle in relation to Jakarta's flooding?

The moon's cycle and the angle of the earth cause king tides, which have been occurring since time began. As Jakarta sinks and slips below sea level, these tides are causing predictable flooding events.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Jakarta's Sinking Dilemma

This paragraph introduces Jakarta, a city historically known as a seaside city, now facing the threat of sinking due to various factors unrelated to climate change. It highlights the city's expansion from a small port to a metropolis of 25 million people and the severe flooding events that have caused significant loss and damage. The narrative delves into the city's waterways, polluted with garbage, and the Dutch engineer's efforts to maintain the canals' capacity, crucial for flood prevention. The historical context of Dutch influence on the city's flood infrastructure is also discussed.

05:00

🏞️ Urban Development and Environmental Impact

The second paragraph discusses the impact of urban development on Jakarta's flooding issues. It explains how the construction of holiday villas and the reduction of green spaces have diminished the land's ability to absorb rainwater, leading to more frequent and severe floods. The focus then shifts to the socio-economic aspects, illustrating how the poor living near waterways are the most vulnerable to flooding. The narrative also touches on the World Bank's involvement in providing loans to address Jakarta's flood problems and the challenges faced by the city's middle and upper classes due to the flooding.

10:01

🏢 The Burden of Urbanization and Elite Escape

This paragraph examines the role of Jakarta's mall culture and the city's elite in exacerbating the sinking issue. It describes how the weight of new constructions, including malls and luxury developments, contributes to the city's subsidence. The narrative also highlights the irony of Jakarta's wealthy escaping the realities of urbanization by retreating to artificial environments like malls and high-end developments, which paradoxically add to the city's weight and sinking problem. The paragraph also touches on the city's traffic congestion and lack of effective public transport.

15:03

🌊 Rising Tides and the Future of Jakarta

The final paragraph addresses the long-term consequences of Jakarta's sinking and the challenges it poses for the city's future. It discusses the king tides and their increasing frequency due to the city's subsidence, leading to more frequent flooding even on clear days. The narrative also explores the potential solutions, such as stopping groundwater extraction or building a massive seawall, and the dire implications of inaction, which could result in the displacement of millions and the loss of a significant portion of the city to the sea.

Keywords

💡Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia and the main subject of the video. It is historically known as a seaside city, but the video discusses its current environmental challenges, such as sinking and flooding. The city's expansion and lack of maintenance are central to the video's theme of urban environmental issues.

💡Sunda Kelapa

Sunda Kelapa is the original name of Jakarta, which the video uses to highlight the city's long history as a port city. The name now refers to a small old port area, symbolizing the transformation of Jakarta from a small port to a sprawling metropolis.

💡Flooding

Flooding is a major issue in Jakarta, as depicted in the video. It is caused by a combination of factors, including urban development, pollution in the canals, and the city's sinking due to groundwater extraction. The video describes the devastating impact of the worst flood in three centuries and the efforts to mitigate future floods.

💡Canals

Canals in Jakarta are crucial for flood management, as they are part of the city's drainage system. However, they are clogged with garbage and sediment, reducing their capacity to handle water. The video mentions the Western flood channel, which has been significantly impacted by the accumulation of waste.

💡Groundwater extraction

Groundwater extraction is identified as a primary cause of Jakarta's sinking. The video explains that the city's reliance on wells for water supply, along with the weight of urban development, is causing the ground to subside, exacerbating flooding issues.

💡Urban development

Urban development in Jakarta is portrayed as a double-edged sword in the video. While it represents progress and modernization, it also contributes to environmental problems such as flooding and sinking. The video cites rampant development, including luxury apartments and malls, as factors that increase the city's weight and alter its water absorption capacity.

💡World Bank

The World Bank is mentioned in the video as an organization assisting Jakarta in addressing its flood problems. They are involved in providing loans and expertise, such as Dutch water engineer General Yahya Brickman, to help maintain and improve the city's flood channels.

💡Slums

Slums are highlighted in the video as areas particularly vulnerable to flooding. The residents living in these areas, often near waterways and embankments, suffer the most from the city's environmental issues, illustrating the social impact of inadequate urban planning.

💡Integrated development

Integrated development is presented in the video as a potential solution to Jakarta's problems. It refers to the construction of self-contained communities, like the Command Village, which includes amenities like schools, hospitals, and hotels, designed to be flood-resistant and self-sufficient.

💡Sea wall

A sea wall is discussed in the video as a potential measure to protect Jakarta from rising sea levels and king tides. It represents a significant infrastructure project that could prevent the city from being submerged if groundwater extraction is not curtailed.

💡King tides

King tides are exceptionally high tides that occur periodically and are a natural phenomenon. The video explains that as Jakarta sinks, these tides are becoming more problematic, causing unexpected flooding even on clear days, and threatening to make parts of the city uninhabitable.

Highlights

Jakarta, historically a seaside city, is currently facing the threat of sinking due to various factors.

The city's old port area, Sunda Kelapa, represents Jakarta's origins but now symbolizes the challenges of urban expansion.

Jakarta's growth has led to a population of 25 million, exerting pressure that contributes to the city's subsidence.

Floods are a regular occurrence in Jakarta due to its low-lying plains, but recent events have been unusually severe.

The 2019 monsoon rains resulted in the worst flood in three centuries, causing significant loss of life and economic damage.

Jakarta's waterways are heavily polluted, affecting the city's ability to manage floodwaters effectively.

Dutch engineer General Yahya Brickman is working with the World Bank to address Jakarta's flood issues.

The city's flood channels, originally built by the Dutch, have been compromised by sediment and waste, reducing their capacity.

Jakarta's surrounding hills, once able to absorb rainwater, have been developed, exacerbating flood conditions.

The city's poor, living near waterways, are the most vulnerable to the devastating effects of flooding.

The World Bank is providing a $150 million loan to help fix Jakarta's flood channels, a critical step in flood management.

Jakarta's elites are developing luxury properties to avoid the city's water problems, highlighting a divide in flood vulnerability.

The city's lack of effective public transport and increasing traffic congestion contribute to its environmental challenges.

Groundwater extraction is causing Jakarta to sink, with less than half of households having tap water, exacerbating the issue.

The combination of groundwater extraction and the city's increasing weight is causing land subsidence.

Jakarta's sinking has led to flooding even on days without rain, indicating a critical environmental shift.

The city's administration is grappling with the need to stop groundwater extraction or build a massive sea wall to prevent displacement.

Without action, a significant portion of Jakarta is at risk of being submerged, affecting millions of residents.

The city faces a 'perfect storm' scenario where flood risks could combine with heavy rains, leading to a major disaster.

Lack of planning and maintenance has put Jakarta in a precarious position, requiring urgent solutions from its administration.

Transcripts

these days few people think of Jakarta

is a seaside city but for more than 500

years that's exactly what it's been it

was known as sunda kelapa back in the

16th century these days that name only

refers to this small old port on the

city's northern fringe this area is

known as the old city and it was from

here that Grady Jakarta marched south

east and west to become a city of 25

million people and under the weight of

all that Indonesia's capital is quite

literally sinking and unless drastic

action is taken where I'm standing now

will be under the sea within 20 years

and it's got nothing to do with climate

change

Chikara is a city built on low-lying

plains that means floods of some sort or

other happen all the time

even so when the monsoon rains fell in

February last year two cartons were not

expecting the worst flood for three

centuries

when it was over 54 people were dead and

almost 1 billion dollars worth of damage

was done

the diagnosis was clear to count his

flights with Eagles

to find out why this is happening you've

got to dig around in the sludge of the

city's filthy waterways

so here we are one of the most important

channels in Jakarta the Western flat

General Yahya Brickman is a Dutch water

engineer contracted to the World Bank

which is helping solve Jakarta's flood

problems for scrap metal for bottles

plastic all the kind of stuff and

everybody has his own material that they

are looking for and that they sell it

and nothing goes to waste nothing goes

away so even though a guy that the

collects straws drillings from drinking

straws cleans them again and sells them

again when the Dutch took over 400 years

ago they brought a lot more to the city

than just the new name of Batavia they

also built a complex system of flood

channels to protect this city crossed by

13 rivers the Western flood channel used

to run alongside Battaglia's western

flank today it cuts straight through

Jakarta's bloated heart

because the city's residents dump their

garbage into them the canals need

constant maintenance but for 25 years

there's only been hazard dredging in

this is dredging we're seeing behind us

this is threating yeah that's very

important the capacity of this channel

reduce a lot about 50 to 80 percent of

the capacity is gone because of the

sediments in the solid waste so it's so

it's now this channel is now operating

in only about 20% capacity that's true

and that translates to a flood one every

50 year to now one every two year one

every five years Indonesia has turned to

its former colonizers to help solve its

water problems hardly surprising given

that 70 percent of Holland is below sea

level Dutch engineers built this massive

flood gate 90 years ago it was placed in

1919 after the first big flood was

transported safely by this channel the

channel that starts from this cave

20 still is very important to keep the

either city of Jakarta safe

Jakarta is surrounded by hills but the

chronic pollution means you don't see

them from the city except on the

clearest of days in recent years trees

have made way for the rampant

development of holiday villas Hills

ability to absorb rainwater has been

radically reduced so now when it rains

swollen rivers are clogged with sediment

and garbage flood channels are

overwhelmed flood gates are useless

during a very high rainfall in the

mountains and the large floods the water

comes up to here and rushes into the

city and rushes into that side and the

whole area here gets flooded it is the

poor living in the slums alongside

Jakarta's waterways who are most

vulnerable flooding is a phenomena that

really pounds the poor they are the

people that live next to the River

embankments they're the people that live

on the coastal areas they are the

squatters living next to the to the

canals etc so they really really suffer

the mall because it's all full of

rubbish it's called sludge anjou ham

leads the World Bank team providing 150

million dollars in loans to help fix

jakarta's flood channels well I told you

there were two reasons why the flooding

is occurring one is because of urban

development the second is because too

much rubbish in the canals now look at

this canal flooding does not distinguish

between wealth and you have more and

more middle-class people that are

affected and in fact the richest of the

rich the most powerful person in

Indonesia the President himself gets

affected by flooding in the way we

commute to the office the roads all get

flooded

rich with their mercedes-benz are still

going to be dramatically affected by the

floods your immobilized in department on

the floods what you Tommy lives in a

flood prone area where she works nearby

as a housemate expatriates

she's been pressured to sell up her

house to make way for an upmarket

development next door when it rains a

lot near your house there's a flood of

here - it's all a flood yeah and you

think it'll be worse once the building

is finished

I'm not store I'm not sure

this development is an example of the

way jakarta's elites are avoiding the

city's water problems promises to be

flight proof when it's finished

command village will cater to every whim

of its 10,000 residents

this is the most exciting development at

Jakarta now probably becoming of the

town taking me on a tour is marketing

director

you'll be roughly all the site is twelve

hectare and this is part of the to a

factor is nine and a half Akhtar where

the first development that we're gonna

do we're gonna start with one big more

150,000 square meter and then 325 Suites

of hotel swimming pool a lot of swimming

pools to clubs and also we have a

wedding chapel we have school and we

will have hospitals everything

everything everything everything you

need is here that's why we call it

integrated development I think that is a

solution for what Jakarta people needs

eleven towers of luxury apartments all

sitting high and dry above the city's

flooding words to the live thing of the

building by columns underneath the water

can still pass through and being

absorbed to the ground to the whole

development who will sit down the plan

right

with no effective mass public transport

system traffic congestion in Jakarta

rates among the world's worst nine

hundred extra motorcycles and 260 new

cars are added to the roads every day

life in the city can be crazy when the

real world gets just too much Jakarta's

elites can always escape into expensive

malls like this one where every day's a

perfect day

or if you fancy a day at the seaside

five floors up try this place

and in other moles without even leaving

Jakarta you can travel the world

but this city's mall culture is not just

innocent escapism for those who can

afford it every one of them makes the

city heavier that's not a good thing

because Jakarta is sinking the cause is

groundwater extraction fewer than half

of Jakarta's households have water on

tap the rest pump it up from underground

industrial users big malls and hotels

dig wells hundreds of meters deep

big buildings that use deep wealth are

big contributors to groundwater

extraction but above and beyond that

when a city develops the city gets

heavier and the combination of water

being extracted in creating vacuums in

the aquifer and the city getting heavier

pushes the city downwards the sinking

phenomenon now causes Jakarta to flood

on days when there's no rain at all on

the bright blue sky on June 14 2007

suddenly a whole North Jakarta got

flooded we were going towards Bali 2007

the last climate conference and this was

a real big flood in there and we could

not believe that this was climate change

actually the cycle of the Moon is far

more important causing these floods in

Jakarta and climate change Yahya

calculated that this flooding was

entirely predictable show us what he

meant and early May this year he

suggested we pay a visit to Jakarta's

Airport which runs along low-lying land

near the sea

and this is what we found flood waters

which were forcing travelers to abandon

their cars no choice

as the predictions proved correct

taqaddas administration began to take

notice the cycle of the moon and the

angle of the earth has caused king tides

since time began the difference now is

that as Jakarta sinks its slipping below

sea level

it was next predicted that Jakarta would

flood again in early June we headed to

the city's northern shores and found

that the message was getting through to

the poor people who live here

I tide was due at 10 o'clock at night

and work was underway to bolster the

seawall with sandbags

as the water went up news came through

that a shift in weather patterns way out

to sea meant that this night's rise

would be twenty centimeters less than

expected

this time Jakarta was lucky it was short

of a disaster but an ominous taste of

things to come the people living down

near the seawall have been lucky the

sandbags upheld it's a different story

up here there's been a breach and the

streets are flooded there's gonna gonna

have a look

we find the sea is rushing in much more

than the locals are used to from her

family shop as what he has spent her

whole life watching the waters come and

go vangelia haben Girma mange idea

semester don't all come on in sir madam

Wang let the gum Island palomino as the

ocean keeps coming the journey by B

check is the only way for as Watty to

get home safely

see is laughing in her door last year it

was less accommodating

no idiot this man Junior

Samantha lager so this has become normal

life for these people and it could

continue except for the fact that

Jakarta is now sinking up to 6

centimeters a year and sometimes more

now in 18 years time these king tides

will return in this entire area to

become uninhabitable the city is

expected to be about 1 meter lower than

at the current position and that means

that she will come in permanently and

plus the first two three four kilometers

of the coastal area of Jakarta and we

expect that it could be completely

unbelievable and it's what more people

so got to live there if if nothing is

done

the choices are stark and none of them

are easy

either stop groundwater extraction or

build a massive sea wall off Jakarta's

coast if not millions of people will be

permanently displaced

and if see flooding coincides with heavy

rains in Jakarta and the surrounding

hills things will be even worse the

perfect storm if you will the perfect

combination of the most worst-case

scenario that Jakarta can in Europe so

we are very concerned with with what

will happen in the next 10 to 18 years

this is the famine from the sea but when

that combines with a flood during the

wet season like the floods that we saw

in 2007 and 2002 and 1996 real big

floods this will bring disaster to

Jakarta and affect millions and millions

of people

a lack of planning and maintenance has

placed Indonesia's capital in this

precarious position

now it's up to the city's administration

to quickly settle on solutions

without action almost a third of Jakarta

will be lost to the sea within the next

20 years

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