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L. Nurhidayah
Keywords Sea-level rise · Human security · Human rights · Climate change ·
Semarang · Demak
Introduction
Context
Global sea-level rise (SLR) is accelerating around the world and the annual rate
could increase more than triple every year by 2100 (UN Climate Change News
2018). This phenomenon is likely to accelerate in the future (Schofield and Freeston
2013). According to the research that was conducted by the University of Colorado,
melting ice sheet is responsible for half of the 7 cm of increase observed since
1993 (UN Climate Change News 2018). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR6) suggested that “By 2100 global
mean sea-level rise is projected to be around 0.1 m lower with the global warming
of 1.5 °C compared to 2 °C (IPCC 2018). Sea-level rise will continue to rise well
beyond 2100, the magnitude and rate of this rise depends on the future emission
pathways” (IPCC 2018).
Indonesia as an archipelagic country is very vulnerable to the impact of SLR.
Based on analysis, the sea-level rise rate in Indonesia is ranging from 0.2 cm/year
to 1 cm/year with an average of rate 0.6 cm/year (ICCSR 2010). In addition, land
subsidence will exacerbate the impact of sea-level rise. These impacts have been
observed in several coastal cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Semarang, Pekalongan,
and Demak. These impacts include loss of land and property because their land has
been permanently inundated, increased cost of rehabilitation of damaged house, loss
of their economy and livelihood, increased disaster illness, reduced the quality of
life people affected by SLR, loss and damage of infrastructure, loss of social and
cultural significance and forced environmental migration.
Sea-level rise is slow and has less dramatic impacts on affected communities not
like earthquake and tsunami. For example, it takes 20 years for local communities to
lose their land due to SLR in Semarang and Demak. Despite this slow impact, SLR
might have deeper impact on peace and security. Prof Walter Kaelin a humanitarian
stated that SLR will likely weaken or even jeopardize the statehood of affected
countries and thus undermine the very foundation of the present international order
(Security Implications of Climate Change: Sea Level Rise—Presentation by Prof.
Walter Kaelin to the Security Council 2016). The IPCC suggested that “without
adaptation a hundred million people will be affected by coastal flooding and will be
displaced due to land loss by year 2100” (Wong et al. 2014).
L. Nurhidayah
Keywords Sea-level rise · Human security · Human rights · Climate change ·
Semarang · Demak
Introduction
Context
Global sea-level rise (SLR) is accelerating around the world and the annual rate
could increase more than triple every year by 2100 (UN Climate Change News
2018). This phenomenon is likely to accelerate in the future (Schofield and Freeston
2013). According to the research that was conducted by the University of Colorado,
melting ice sheet is responsible for half of the 7 cm of increase observed since
1993 (UN Climate Change News 2018). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR6) suggested that “By 2100 global
mean sea-level rise is projected to be around 0.1 m lower with the global warming
of 1.5 °C compared to 2 °C (IPCC 2018). Sea-level rise will continue to rise well
beyond 2100, the magnitude and rate of this rise depends on the future emission
pathways” (IPCC 2018).
Indonesia as an archipelagic country is very vulnerable to the impact of SLR.
Based on analysis, the sea-level rise rate in Indonesia is ranging from 0.2 cm/year
to 1 cm/year with an average of rate 0.6 cm/year (ICCSR 2010). In addition, land
subsidence will exacerbate the impact of sea-level rise. These impacts have been
observed in several coastal cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Semarang, Pekalongan,
and Demak. These impacts include loss of land and property because their land has
been permanently inundated, increased cost of rehabilitation of damaged house, loss
of their economy and livelihood, increased disaster illness, reduced the quality of
life people affected by SLR, loss and damage of infrastructure, loss of social and
cultural significance and forced environmental migration.
Sea-level rise is slow and has less dramatic impacts on affected communities not
like earthquake and tsunami. For example, it takes 20 years for local communities to
lose their land due to SLR in Semarang and Demak. Despite this slow impact, SLR
might have deeper impact on peace and security. Prof Walter Kaelin a humanitarian
stated that SLR will likely weaken or even jeopardize the statehood of affected
countries and thus undermine the very foundation of the present international order
(Security Implications of Climate Change: Sea Level Rise—Presentation by Prof.
Walter Kaelin to the Security Council 2016). The IPCC suggested that “without
adaptation a hundred million people will be affected by coastal flooding and will be
displaced due to land loss by year 2100” (Wong et al. 2014).