Declaration on sea level rise in Indramayu

Input for the Declaration on Sea Level Rise

Submitted by:
Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia (YPI)
Special Consultative Status in ECOSOC
United Nations

Date: 10 April 2026

Focus Area: Northern Coast of Indramayu Regency, West Java, Indonesia

Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia, Special Consultative Status to ECOSOC, expresses deep concern over the severe and accelerating impacts of sea level rise on the northern coast of Indramayu Regency. This region faces a dangerous combination of global sea level rise and rapid land subsidence, primarily driven by excessive groundwater extraction, heavy infrastructure loads, and unsustainable coastal development.

In villages such as Eretan Wetan, Eretan Kulon, Tambak Raya, and Karangsong, tidal flooding (rob) now occurs routinely, with inundation levels frequently exceeding one meter. Coastal erosion has caused the shoreline to retreat by hundreds of meters over recent decades, destroying homes, fish ponds, agricultural fields, roads, and other critical infrastructure. Many fishing and aquaculture communities have lost their primary sources of livelihood, while schools and homes are repeatedly flooded, severely disrupting children’s education and daily life. Several coastal settlements are on the brink of permanent submersion, forcing residents to repeatedly raise their houses or face displacement.

These impacts are compounded by the degradation of mangrove ecosystems, which once served as vital natural barriers. The loss of mangroves has reduced coastal protection, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of local and indigenous coastal communities. The situation threatens to trigger increased poverty, food insecurity, and involuntary migration, while disproportionately affecting women, children, and vulnerable groups.

We urge the intergovernmental declaration to include concrete, actionable commitments that address the dual threats of climate-induced sea level rise and human-induced land subsidence, particularly in highly vulnerable developing country contexts like Indonesia’s northern Java coast.

Key Recommendations:

1. Explicit Recognition of Compound Risks. The declaration should formally acknowledge cases such as Indramayu as examples of “compound coastal hazards” (sea level rise combined with land subsidence) and prioritize support for the most affected developing nations and coastal communities.
2. Scaled-Up Adaptation Financing and Technology Transfer. Establish dedicated, accessible funding mechanisms and technology transfer programs to support large-scale, integrated adaptation projects, including the construction of resilient coastal defenses, breakwaters, and elevated infrastructure.
3. Nature-Based Solutions. Prioritize the large-scale restoration and protection of mangrove forests and other coastal ecosystems as cost-effective, multi-benefit solutions for shoreline stabilization, carbon sequestration, and livelihood support.
4. Equitable Relocation and Livelihood Programs. Promote humane, community-led relocation strategies for the most at-risk populations, accompanied by the provision of alternative land, sustainable livelihood opportunities, and climate-resilient housing and education facilities.
5. Local Capacity Building and Monitoring. Strengthen local and national capacities through investment in real-time monitoring systems for sea level rise, land subsidence, and early warning for tidal flooding, with full participation of affected communities, including indigenous and local knowledge holders.

The people of Indramayu’s northern coast cannot afford further delay. We call on Member States to ensure that the final declaration translates into tangible, time-bound actions and adequate resource mobilization to protect vulnerable coastal populations worldwide.

Yayasan Pendidikan Indonesia stands ready to support the implementation of the declaration through education, community empowerment, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this important event.