Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is called the world’s fastest sinking city. It is the most densely populated metropolitan area descending 10 centimeters on an average within earth annually. The serious cause of this issue is global warming along with additional anthropogenic reasons. One-fourth of the city is sinking beneath the mean sea level, especially in North Jakarta where the rate of sinking is relatively higher. And the continual changes in climate in Indonesia make the situation worse. The people are hit by the floods almost annually that it has become more or less a part of their lives. They are also braving the frequent losses of displacement and destruction the city is heading to.
Formidable Challenge
Jakarta is initiating steps ahead to confront the miserable situation but perhaps, the monotonous harmful man-made practices have made the issue burdensome. The researchers and analysts have discovered that the city might sink in this very century itself beneath the Java Sea. Global Warming has led to recurrent climate changes and the excess extraction of subterranean water has also contributed to the issue.
The significant reason behind this is the lack of services of the water supply system among the local people. People generally extract water from pumps, which is increasing widely and causing disturbance in the earth via degrading the soil. Moreover, the arctic ice is thawing by the alteration of climate under global warming, thus resulting in rising ocean levels provoking floods.
As righteously quoted by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, to survive, he must protect it.” It means that the realization of the essence of nature and our selfish behavior demands attention. Not only in the city “Jakarta”, but Global warming is a comprehensive challenge around the globe. Reducing carbon emissions should be our center of concern as the burning of fuels is heightening the greenhouse effect.
In Jakarta, the snag also drives heat expansion of the water in oceans and seas which thereby leads to the rise in the water levels leading to floods and dropping of the city. The increase in water levels is therefore causing water-borne diseases and the health of the people of Jakarta is worrisome. The World Health Organization cautions regarding the prompt floods, inadequate water services that can contribute to the spread of contagious diseases.
Demanding ventures
The President of Indonesia imbued in the construction of 17 artificial islands in Jakarta, but the remedy turned out to be incompetent in the face of floods. Furthermore, the people of Jakarta have started conforming to the consequences of Global warming. In addition, the people are cooperating with the programs initiated by the Indonesian government for their welfare. The active participation of the villagers in the “Climate Village Program” arises from the vulnerability of life here. It comprises waste management, energy-efficient sources, recycling, decrease in carbon footprint, usage of renewable energy, etc.
RAPP and Gunung Sari village collaborated to execute the program in the course of the company’s community development initiative. Rainwater repositories intended to strengthen the vital and basic demands of the people like food security. The initiatives are functioning actively for the welfare of the people for the reason that this issue demands a central focal point in attention to governments and bureaucrats.
At the 2016 Oscars, Joe McCarthy virtuously quoted “Climate change is real. It is happening right now, it is the most urgent threat facing our entire species and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.” Jakarta is sinking so fast that there’s no wonder it might get completely submerged in the following years. The governments, institutions, local people, administrators, everyone must have a collaborative approach towards the critical challenge the city is facing at the moment. And the programs demand an impeccable analytical and calculated procedure for effective advancement in the matter. Global warming is causing rapid climate changes which can damage the environment expeditiously. The world needs to awaken its senses to the environment without delay; otherwise, future generations will pay an irreplaceable loss.
As Barack Obama quotes: “The world must come together to confront climate change. There is little scientific dispute that if we do nothing, we will face more drought, famine, and mass displacement that will fuel more conflict for decades.”
The ultimate explication of Jakarta is to mitigate global warming, and the city acts as an alarm warning around the world. Nature was always a provider. It’s we who misled the path and followed the narcissistic attitude towards it. But it’s never too late to realize the mistake and repay by moving ahead in the right direction. Finding a balance between nature and human beings should be our proximate concern. And the counterbalance is complicated yet demanding and can be resolved collectively. The world has to be united for a favorable future.
