Indonesia’s capital shift offers lessons for climate-vulnerable pacific states
Analysts say humanitarian concerns, climate finance, South-South cooperation are driving greater engagement by Muslim-majority countries in Pacific
By Mushfiq Ahmed
KARACHI, Pakistan (MNTV) – Indonesia’s decision to move its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara has become one of the world’s most closely watched climate-adaptation projects.
Speaking to MNTV on the World Environment Day, analysts said the experience offers valuable lessons for Pacific Island nations facing even more severe threats from rising sea levels, as countries across the region grapple with questions of relocation, resilience and national survival.
The battle against rising sea levels has become an existential struggle for many Pacific Island nations, transforming climate change from an environmental concern into a matter of sovereignty, security, migration and international law, said analysts.
According to former ambassador Sanaullah, the issue is no longer simply about protecting coastlines but about safeguarding the very existence of some island states whose territories face the threat of partial or complete submersion.
“The issue of rising sea levels in the Pacific is no longer viewed merely as an environmental challenge,” he said. “It has become a question of sovereignty, statehood, migration, security, international law and loss of territory.”
Faced with accelerating sea-level rise, Pacific governments have adopted a range of adaptation measures aimed at protecting their populations and preserving their territorial integrity. These include constructing sea walls and coastal defenses, restoring mangrove forests that serve as natural barriers against storm surges and erosion, and seeking international climate financing to support resilience projects.
Some governments are also developing contingency plans for the possible relocation of populations from areas that may become uninhabitable in the future. However, Sanaullah noted that while certain adaptation measures have produced tangible benefits, relocation remains a difficult and uncertain solution.
In addition to physical adaptation efforts, Pacific Island nations are pursuing diplomatic and legal initiatives to safeguard their future status as sovereign states. Collectively and through bilateral engagement, they are promoting legal concepts that would allow their maritime zones and statehood to remain internationally recognized even if parts of their territories become submerged by rising seas.
At the same time, a growing number of Muslim-majority countries have become involved in climate diplomacy related to the Pacific. Many Muslim-majority countries are themselves experiencing the impacts of climate change, including devastating floods, irregular rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts.
“Islamic countries also suffer from climate change and consequential environmental disasters like unusual flash floods, heavy rains and long dry seasons,” Sanaullah said. “The concern is largely humanitarian in nature and expressed through funding and support.”
He added that these countries recognize the gradual loss of habitability facing many low-lying islands and view their assistance as part of wider global climate diplomacy rather than a pursuit of strategic interests.
While some observers argue that engagement could help strengthen ties with small developing states in the Global South, he believes humanitarian responsibility remains the primary motivation.
However, he acknowledged that Pacific Island nations collectively hold significant influence in international organizations despite their small populations.
“These states count in the United Nations and collectively hold valuable votes in multilateral forums,” he noted. “Some countries may also have this consideration in mind when extending assistance.”
Several Muslim-majority countries are contributing climate-related support through international and multilateral channels, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Sanaullah said Indonesia’s role is particularly notable because it is itself a vast archipelagic nation confronting many of the same coastal and climate-related pressures faced by Pacific states.
Analysts point to Indonesia’s decision to relocate its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan as an example of how governments are being forced to consider large-scale adaptation measures in response to environmental vulnerabilities. Jakarta has long struggled with land subsidence, flooding and rising sea levels, making the capital shift one of the world’s most ambitious climate-adaptation projects.
Because of these experiences, Indonesia is well positioned to provide technical expertise, capacity-building programs and South-South development cooperation tailored to the needs of island nations facing similar threats.
The United Arab Emirates has also emerged as a prominent climate-finance actor, particularly following its hosting of the COP28 climate summit. Through various climate-finance mechanisms, the UAE has expanded its engagement with vulnerable island nations.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Qatar continue to contribute through United Nations climate-finance initiatives and broader development assistance programs aimed at helping vulnerable countries adapt to the effects of climate change.
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