Delta Life 9

27 CLIMATERESILIENCE IN TWENTY-FIVE INDONESIAN CITIES E very year, floods may affect an average of 1.3 million Indonesians, and severe earthquakes may impact another 450,000. Particularly in cities, and they are growing rapidly: nearly three-quarters of the Indonesian population are expected to be living in large cities by 2035. The government is already spending between three and five hundred million dollars annually on reconstruction. So researchers from Deltares have been asked by the World Bank to map out the long-term flood risks for twenty-five cities in Indonesia. In addition, the five cities where the risk is highest will also receive advice about how to establish structural protection against natural disasters. The cities to be studied are now being identified in collaboration with the World Bank and Indonesia. Habitable cities The social importance of this study is enormous. Indonesia is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as sea level rise and changing weather patterns. These developments will cause more uncertainty about water supplies and food production, and disrupt traffic. Another factor is the rapid urbanisation of the country. Investments in both structural and non-structural measures such as urban drainage, flood management and improved preparations are becoming increasingly important because more people are at risk. The aim of the study will be to use the information obtained to raise awareness at the urban and national levels, and to describe effective measures needed to reduce the risk of flooding and to prevent disasters. Policymakers can make better-informed decisions based on the information from this study so that the cities will remain safe and habitable in the longer term. Open data The data and basic information will be kept in an open data­ base so that other cities can benefit. Deltares is working with local experts on this project: the Asian Disaster Prepared­ ness Centre (ADPC) and PT Wiratman. Financial support has been provided by the Indonesian Sustainable Urbanisation Multi-Donor Trust Fund (IDSUN), the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the World Bank. Urbanisation and economic progress are mainly seen on coasts and rivers, which is precisely where climate risks are increasing owing to climate change. Deltares is studying possible responses in twenty-five rapidly- growing Indonesian cities. BY CAROLA DE VREE AND PJOTR VAN LENTEREN IMAGE NEELTJE GOORDEN