JAKARTA – A range of hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides occurred in several parts of Indonesia, during the rainy season from December 2021 to early March 2022, according to expert analysis, Monday (7/3). This series of disasters is clear evidence to immediately strengthen Indonesia’s climate change mitigation efforts which are currently in the world’s spotlight as the G20 Presidency.
“A number of meteorological agencies from various countries such as the United States, Japan and Australia agree that this year La Nina will still occur. When warm water enters Indonesian waters, there will be more cloud formation than usual. This natural phenomenon encourages an increase in the intensity of rain in Indonesia. As a result, this rainy season is wetter than before. The high rainfall then causes floods and landslides,” explained Prof. Edvin Aldrian, BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency) Professor of Meteorology and Climatology, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change WG 1 Vice Chair.
In addition to floods and landslides, heavy rainfall is also suspected of causing lava floods on Mount Semeru last December. Indonesian meteorology and climatology agency (BMKG) has also issued several early warnings for extreme weather. A number of areas that fall into the alert category for the potential for extreme weather include several areas from Sabang to Merauke, from Aceh to West Papua.
High rainfall was also suspected as the cause of the lava flood on Mount Semeru at the end of 2021. In other words, this hydrometeorological disaster turned out to have contributed to aggravating volcanic disasters, which are still likely to occur in the future.
“The volcanic disaster on Mount Semeru during the rainy season indicates eruptive activity. The magmatism process moves up and freezes at the top of the mountain. Freezing is what then forms the dome. The existence of climate change, causing very extreme rain, so that the piles of these materials mix with additional water from the rain.
For this reason, when it rains with high intensity, volcanic material is also carried through the river. This lava flood was carried by currents through the valley and hit settlements at a very high speed,” added Prof. Nana Sulaksana, Professor of the Faculty of Geological Engineering, Padjadjaran University.
The above series of hydrometeorological disasters occurred during the implementation of the Indonesian Presidency at the G20, when the government was committed to addressing climate change and managing the environment sustainably through concrete actions. In short, the government’s steps towards zero emissions by 2060 are increasingly urgent.
The Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani, earlier said that G20 countries must seek ways to obtain green economy financing and investment at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in mid-February 2022. She emphasized that climate change could have a bigger impact than a pandemic. For this reason, steps taken by the G20 countries today will determine the sustainability of their future world life, both for the Indonesian people and the global community. (Hartatik)
