AHY Issues Danger Warning: Conditions in Java's North Coast Are Already Critical
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Coordinating Minister (Kemenko) for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, or AHY, has revealed the current condition of Java’s North Coast (Pantura Jawa).
In a coordination meeting (rakor) with ministry officials, institutions, and regional heads a short while ago, he stated that the condition of the area is concerning.
The potential for disasters is also increasing, as the land surface subsides by 15 to 20 cm each year.
“I want to convey that, as stated by President Prabowo Subianto in his speeches several times, land subsidence of 15 cm to 20 cm per year has occurred, with the worst cases in Jakarta and Semarang. But in other areas, land subsidence is also continuously happening,” said AHY in his presentation, quoted on Sunday (10/5/2026).
Not only land subsidence, but Java’s North Coast is also facing rising sea levels as a result of global warming, where sea levels are rising by 0.8 cm to 1.2 cm per year.
He even revealed that without serious handling, the condition could be worse by 2050.
“At the same time, this can be said to be twin pressure; dual pressure is occurring from rising sea levels due to global warming, rising by 0.8 cm to 1.2 cm per year. This also continuously threatens tidal floods that can destroy property, damage residents’ homes, and so on.
This has the potential to cause worse and more fatal disasters. You can see the projection of sea inundation up to 2050 if without intervention; this could be worse,” he explained.
Not only that, a clean water crisis is also looming over Java’s North Coast, where residents in the area are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain clean water.
“Then it turns out we are not only facing excess water in the form of floods, but also scarcity and a clean water crisis. This also needs to be handled seriously,” he emphasised.
If the problems in Java’s North Coast are not addressed soon, it will impact Indonesia’s economy, where in 2025, Java’s North Coast contributes 27.53% or around US$368.37 billion to Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP).
“This also needs to be handled seriously, because the potential economic loss is quite large, where Java’s North Coast itself contributes 27% to the national GDP,” he clarified.
AHY said the problems in Java’s North Coast must be handled seriously so that environmental damage does not worsen in the future.
“If we have a positive projection, then we must handle the condition of Java’s North Coast well and seriously, ensure it is maintained so that environmental damage does not get worse; we must move together and cohesively so that the problems in Java’s North Coast can be addressed,” he stated.
Warning from BRIN
Separately, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) revealed that the coastal area of Java’s North Coast, stretching from Serang Regency to Situbondo Regency, has experienced erosion in 65.8% of its coastline areas. The high rate of coastal abrasion has resulted in environmental degradation that directly impacts the loss of living space for residents and disrupts economic infrastructure in the region.
This was comprehensively revealed based on the latest research data by Researcher from the Centre for Climate and Atmospheric Research at BRIN, Tubagus Solihuddin, in the Exposition of the Earth and Maritime Research Organisation (ORKM) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) themed “Resilient North Coast, Sustainable Indonesia for the Integration of Science, Innovation, and Coastal Resilience”, at the B.J. Habibie Building, Jakarta, on Thursday (30/4/2026).
Tubagus highlighted that the development of settlements and economic activity centres in the North Coast is progressing very massively due to high demographic pressure. This has led to uncontrolled extraction of marine and coastal resources.