Indonesia To Relocate Its Capital City from the Island of Java to the Island of Borneo

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, announced on Monday, August 26 that the central national government will relocate its capital city, Jakarta, from the island of Java to the island of Borneo. Reasons for capital city relocation from Jakarta to somewhere in Borneo include overcrowding, high congestion, increased pollution, and heighten risks of sinking due to its geographical position below sea level as well as sea-level rise caused by human-made climate change.

Many environmentalists have concerns about the capital city being relocated from northeastern Java Island to eastern Borneo or Kalimantan due to rising natural habitat destruction that threatens critically endangered or threatened species such as the orangutan and rising sea levels along the costal areas. Furthermore, concerns of overpopulation have been considered due to the fact that Indonesia is the largest Muslim majority country in the world by size and population with a current population of more than 200 million and projected population of more than 300 million by the end of the 21st century in 2100.

Indonesia is not the only country in the world that has relocated its capital city or is proposing capital city relocation. Countries such as Brazil, Australia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Myanmar or Burma have relocated their capital cities further inland. Countries such as South Korea and Egypt are proposal relocating their centers of government to newly constructed areas to ease overpopulation.