Urbanisation, Demographics and Adaptation to Climate Change in Semarang, Indonesia

Addressing the impacts of climate change is a strategic issue that requires a comprehensive and sustainable approach. As a result of climate change, global temperatures are expected to continue to rise, resulting in sea level rise and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, landslides and storms. These hazards are expected to affect natural ecosystems, as well as human communities through their costly impacts on basic services, infrastructure, housing, economic livelihood and health.

Cities in Indonesia face unique challenges in the context of climate change because of the country’s geographic characteristics, as well as its rapidly growing economy. As an archipelagic nation, low-lying coastal areas and many small islands are vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise. The country already suffers from drought, extreme temperature fluctuations, and land degradation and desertification, all of which are expected to worsen as a result of climate change.