Indonesia is using influencers and green pledges to promote its new $35 billion capital. Take a look at Nusantara.
George Glover
Economy, Politics, Indonesia, Climate Change, Cities
Indonesia plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to the new city of Nusantara.

The new city will cost $35 billion and won't be finished until 2045.

Officials are using a range of promotional tactics to drum up interest.

Jakarta, on the northwest coast of Java at the mouth of the Ciliwung river, is Indonesia's capital and its biggest city.

It's home to some 10.6 million people and about 30 million in the metropolitan area. It's also sinking, with about 40% of the area below sea level.

The Indonesian government plans to move the capital to Nusantara, a new city being built on the eastern coast of Borneo, about 870 miles north of Jakarta.

It will cost an estimated $35 billion and won't be finished until 2045. However, about 6,000 government workers are expected to move there in time for the next president's inauguration in October.

The decision is not without precedent. Brazil shifted from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960, while Abuja replaced Lagos as Nigeria's capital in 1991.

But this is the first time that the climate crisis has played a role in the process. In recent years, rising sea levels have made Jakarta the world's fastest-sinking megacity, which sparked the Indonesian government's decision to move the capital.

Take a closer look at Nusantara.

A new beginning

In August 2019, Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, approved a plan to move the capital from Jakarta to Nusantara.

The site in East Kalimantan was chosen because it's close to the sea and there's a relatively low risk of earthquakes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruptions.

Under water

This mosque in Jakarta has been affected by rising sea levels. Excessive groundwater withdrawals have contributed to subsidence rates of up to six inches a year, and 40% of the city is now below sea level.

Environmental experts warn that a third of Jakarta could be submerged by 2050 if subsidence continues at the current rate.

Indonesia's government is also spending tens of billions of dollars on measures to try to stop flooding in Jakarta.

Flood risk

Researchers at NASA and partner agencies used data in 2020 to produce this map to identify areas of Jakarta under threat of being flooded.

'Nusantara' roughly translates to 'the outer islands'

The site was chosen to reflect Widodo's geopolitical vision and reflect Indonesia's unity as an archipelagic state. The country's 276 million people are spread across more than 17,000 islands.

Nusantara is on Borneo, one of the world’s largest islands

Borneo is known for its 140 million-year-old rainforests, home to endangered native species including the Bornean orangutan.

About three-quarters of the island is Indonesian territory, while the remainder is split between Malaysia and Brunei. Borneo has a total population of about 23 million people.

Construction began in July 2022

Widodo sent some 100,000 workers to start building Nusantara, and the number of workers rose to between 150,000 and 200,000 as construction ramped up.

This is how the Nusantara site looked in April 2022

The satellite image was taken by the OLI-2, an operational land imager, on Landsat 9.

This is how it looked in February

A network of roads has been carved into the forest since 2022 so that the construction of government facilities and other dwellings can begin. The initial population is expected to be about 500,000, according to the project website.

Indonesia’s government has pledged to make the city 100% green

Policymakers have claimed that Nusantara will be a "green, walkable" metropolis, powered entirely by renewable energy by 2045.

Construction includes a plan to build a 50-megawatt solar plant, and aims to allow only electric vehicles by the end of this decade.

Some big names are involved in the project

Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, and Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are both on the steering committee for Nusantara. In October, the Tony Blair Institute signed a deal to build a research center in the new capital.

Indonesia has also used influencers to promote Nusantara

Last year, Widodo took dozens of influencers on a tour of the $35 billion site in a bid to ease concerns about deforestation. "Remember, this is an industrial forest. It's chopped down every six years. It is not a natural forest," he reportedly said. "Don't get it wrong."

The social-media stars later posted gushing videos about the project

TikTok star Jerhemy Owen told his roughly 3 million followers that Nusantara would be "the smartest and most eco-friendly city in the world." A YouTube video showing footage of Widodo's tour has racked up over 700,000 views.

It's not clear where the money is going to come from, though

While the city is expected to cost about $35 billion, the Indonesian government has only committed to providing about 20% of the funds, and it's struggling to find other sources of finance. In March 2022, Japan's SoftBank pulled out of investing in the project.
Indonesia plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to the new city of Nusantara.
The new city will cost $35 billion and won't be finished until 2045.
Officials are using a range of promotional tactics to drum up interest.
Jakarta, on the northwest coast of Java at the mouth of the Ciliwung river, is Indonesia's capital and its biggest city. It's home to some 10.6 million people and about 30 million in the metropolitan area. It's also sinking, with about 40% of the area below sea level. The Indonesian government plans to move the capital to Nusantara, a new city being built on the eastern coast of Borneo, about 870 miles north of Jakarta. It will cost an estimated $35 billion and won't be finished until 2045. However, about 6,000 government workers are expected to move there in time for the next president's inauguration in October. The decision is not without precedent. Brazil shifted from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960, while Abuja replaced Lagos as Nigeria's capital in 1991. But this is the first time that the climate crisis has played a role in the process. In recent years, rising sea levels have made Jakarta the world's fastest-sinking megacity, which sparked the Indonesian government's decision to move the capital. Take a closer look at Nusantara. In August 2019, Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, approved a plan to move the capital from Jakarta to Nusantara. The site in East Kalimantan was chosen because it's close to the sea and there's a relatively low risk of earthquakes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruptions. This mosque in Jakarta has been affected by rising sea levels. Excessive groundwater withdrawals have contributed to subsidence rates of up to six inches a year, and 40% of the city is now below sea level. Environmental experts warn that a third of Jakarta could be submerged by 2050 if subsidence continues at the current rate. Indonesia's government is also spending tens of billions of dollars on measures to try to stop flooding in Jakarta. Researchers at NASA and partner agencies used data in 2020 to produce this map to identify areas of Jakarta under threat of being flooded. The site was chosen to reflect Widodo's geopolitical vision and reflect Indonesia's unity as an archipelagic state. The country's 276 million people are spread across more than 17,000 islands. Borneo is known for its 140 million-year-old rainforests, home to endangered native species including the Bornean orangutan. About three-quarters of the island is Indonesian territory, while the remainder is split between Malaysia and Brunei. Borneo has a total population of about 23 million people. Widodo sent some 100,000 workers to start building Nusantara, and the number of workers rose to between 150,000 and 200,000 as construction ramped up. The satellite image was taken by the OLI-2, an operational land imager, on Landsat 9. A network of roads has been carved into the forest since 2022 so that the construction of government facilities and other dwellings can begin. The initial population is expected to be about 500,000, according to the project website. Policymakers have claimed that Nusantara will be a "green, walkable" metropolis, powered entirely by renewable energy by 2045. Construction includes a plan to build a 50-megawatt solar plant, and aims to allow only electric vehicles by the end of this decade. Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, and Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are both on the steering committee for Nusantara. In October, the Tony Blair Institute signed a deal to build a research center in the new capital. Last year, Widodo took dozens of influencers on a tour of the $35 billion site in a bid to ease concerns about deforestation. "Remember, this is an industrial forest. It's chopped down every six years. It is not a natural forest," he reportedly said. "Don't get it wrong." TikTok star Jerhemy Owen told his roughly 3 million followers that Nusantara would be "the smartest and most eco-friendly city in the world." A YouTube video showing footage of Widodo's tour has racked up over 700,000 views. While the city is expected to cost about $35 billion, the Indonesian government has only committed to providing about 20% of the funds, and it's struggling to find other sources of finance. In March 2022, Japan's SoftBank pulled out of investing in the project.
 A new beginning Under water Flood risk 'Nusantara' roughly translates to 'the outer islands' Nusantara is on Borneo, one of the world’s largest islands Construction began in July 2022 This is how the Nusantara site looked in April 2022 This is how it looked in February Indonesia’s government has pledged to make the city 100% green Some big names are involved in the project Indonesia has also used influencers to promote Nusantara The social-media stars later posted gushing videos about the project It's not clear where the money is going to come from, though