NTB Formulates Policy to Address Potential Sea Level Rise

The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Government is strengthening the formulation of data- and evidence-based policies as a strategic measure to address the threat of rising sea levels due to climate change. “Policy briefs are crucial for concisely explaining an issue, why it matters, and the alternative policies that can be pursued,” said NTB Regional Secretary Abul Chair during a policy brief writing workshop in Mataram on Tuesday. Abul emphasised that public policy can no longer be formulated based on assumptions or habits, but must rely on valid data, in-depth analysis, and an understanding of the root causes. He noted that every development issue has different root causes, so policy formulation must be based on root cause analysis to ensure the resulting solutions are effective and sustainable. According to him, the impact of rising sea levels is increasingly being felt by the coastal areas of NTB, which has the characteristics of an archipelagic province. NTB faces a sea level rise rate of approximately 3.5 millimetres per year in North Lombok and 6.5 millimetres per year in South Lombok, while the national average rate is around 8 to 12 millimetres per year. Noudy Tandean, Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Domestic Strategy Policy Agency, stated that strengthening evidence-based policy is key to facing the increasingly complex impacts of climate change. Climate change, triggered by greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and various human activities, has caused a rise in global temperatures, altered weather patterns, and led to rising sea levels that threaten coastal areas. Indonesia has a major responsibility to protect coastal and marine ecosystems, given its position as the world’s largest archipelagic nation and its location at the heart of the coral triangle. Noudy revealed that the threat of rising sea levels could potentially trigger coastal erosion, tidal flooding, seawater intrusion, loss of productive land, damage to settlements, and increased social and economic vulnerability for coastal communities. He appreciated the NTB government’s collaboration with the SKALA Programme, which has previously produced 15 policy briefs as an initial step towards building a culture of evidence-based policymaking in the region. “We must protect the strategic areas that are the pride of NTB, such as Senggigi, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and other coastal destinations, so they remain resilient in facing the impacts of climate change,” Noudy said. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Domestic Strategy Policy Agency is currently developing a Policy Hub, a platform that integrates data, knowledge, and policy recommendations from the central to the regional level, to support faster and more precise decision-making. Data-based governance, cross-sector coordination, institutional capacity building, and adaptive development planning are essential, given that regional governments are at the forefront of facing the impacts of climate change. Head of the SKALA NTB Programme, Anja Kusuma, stated that her party continues to strengthen the capacity of policy analysts so that the NTB government can produce quality recommendations that are responsive to regional development challenges.