Climate change threatens national security: Indonesian Ministers

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 14 Oct 09;

Climate change could pose a threat to national security with thousands of small islands that border the country at risk from rising sea levels.

National Development Planning Agency’s (Bappenas) chairman Paskah Suzetta said if these small islands disappeared, international borders could shift and change maritime traffic routes.

“Changes in traffic routes will put national security at risk making the country more prone to illicit activity including illegal logging and fishing, piracy and natural resource exploitation,” he said.

He said another threat to national security as a result of climate change was likely a food, energy and water crisis.

“It is crucial to consider climate-change issues with national security affairs,” he said.

A study predicts the sea level could increase by 0.4 meters by next year in Indonesia, which could wash away approximately 7.4 square kilometers of coastal areas. By 2100, the sea level is predicted to reach 1 meter and could cover about 100,000 square kilometers of land and about 2,000 islands.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said Indonesia had already lost about 29 islands due to a rising sea level, from 2007.

There are currently about 17,504 small islands.

“The rising sea level threatens millions of people,” Freddy said.

Bappenas is currently drafting a road map focusing on climate change in national development planning.

The road map based on scientific evidence and assessment will become a guideline to allocate the state budget to each ministry between 2010 and 2030.