Sea level rises are often spoken about as a potential future impact of climate change. But on the Indonesian island of Java, they are already threatening millions.
Yusuf, 20, stands in front of his home, which was destroyed by high waves due to rising sea levels in Cemarajaya village, in Karawang regency, West Java, on January 5, 2023.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Waves crash into an abandoned house in Simonet village, in Pekalongan, Central Java, which residents say was hundreds of meters from the beach just 10-12 years ago, on June 4, 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
A man stands beside his family home, which has been damaged by exposure to the sea in Simonet village, in Pekalongan, Central Java, on June 3, 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
The abandoned Wal Adhuna Mosque is engulfed by rising waters in the Muara Baru area of North Jakarta, Indonesia, August 2021. The mosque and other buildings in this area were abandoned after the area was blockaded by a giant sea wall to protect it from tidal floods.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Lukman, 25, walks past his home as waves crash against its walls in Simonet village in Pekalongan, Central Java, on June 4, 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Sea waves crash against the houses of residents at Pisangan beach in Cemarajaya village, in Karawang regency, West Java, on January 5, 2023.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Waves crash into an abandoned house in Simonet village in Pekalongan, Central Java, on June 4, 2021,
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Villagers spread and level mud dug up from the surrounding seabed in Pantai Bahagia village, Bekasi Regency, on September 16, 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
A villager holds a hose as he collects sand for sandbags during high tide at Pisangan beach in Cemarajaya village, in Karawang regency, West Java, on January 4, 2023.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
A villager sprays sandbags with water to slow down the encroachment of the sea at Pisangan beach in Cemarajaya village, in Karawang regency, West Java, on January 4, 2023.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
A villager walks along sandbags beside a road submerged by flood waters from rising sea levels at Pisangan beach in Cemarajaya village, in Karawang regency, West Java, on January 4, 2023.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
A woman vendor walks along a flooded road surrounded by rising sea levels at Jeruksari village, in Pekalongan, Central Java, in June 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Houses are seen surrounded by rising sea levels at Jeruksari village, in Pekalongan, Central Java, in June 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
A woman sits in front of her house which has been for many years surrounded by rising sea levels at Jeruksari village, in Pekalongan, Central Java, in June 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Jusyang, 54, stands in front of home that was destroyed by high waves due to rising sea levels at Cemarajaya village, in Karawang regency, West Java, on January 4, 2023.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
An abandoned house surrounded by rising sea levels in Simonet village north of Pekalongan, Central Java, on 4 June 2021.
Credit: Garry Lotulung
Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country and its largest archipelagic nation, comprising over 17,000 islands. With the majority of these islands sitting only one meter above sea level, coastal areas in many parts of the country are being threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change. Deforestation, landscape reclamation, and the illegal extraction of groundwater by the industry on the coasts make these areas even more vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Experts predict that before 2050, thousands of small islands and millions of houses in coastal areas across Indonesia will disappear due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. By that year, a third of the capital Jakarta, which has been described as the world’s most rapidly sinking city, could be submerged.
As these images illustrate, sea level rises are already having a significant impact in coastal regions of Java, such as Pekalongan in Central Java and Karawang in West Java.
