The evolution of risk and vulnerability in Greater Jakarta: contesting government policy in dealing with a megacity’s exposure to flooding

An academic response to Jakarta floods in January 2013, IRGSC working paper no. 2:

This paper highlights the development of Jakarta and its social-economic-environmental vulnerability. The paper uses formal statistical data, flood historical data and secondary sources to examine the evolution of flood risks in Jakarta over the last three decades. It asks what the main factors that contribute to the evolution of risks in Jakarta are and highlights the poor connection between government policy related to flood control and metropolitan development. It recommends fundamental reform in the existing megacity planning in order to anticipate future climate extremes.

The paper seeks to contribute to academic debate concerning the need to undersand cities evolution of vulnerabilities as a starting point for city govenance. It also provides policy relevant information for the governments and academia for institutional reform. After the introduction, the next section discuses megacities and risk that occurs in the global context discussed by existing literatures. It then explains the trend of development in Jakarta Metropolitan Area (JMA), with reference to the development of the industry and the properties. The paper adopts the concept of the megacity problems in Jakarta context and analyzes in term of issues related to market development and government current policy that focuses on the structural measures (engineering measures) to flood hazards. It finally draws discussion and recommend some actions in order to achieve sustainable risk management in JMA.