Sinking Jakarta, Rising Nusantara : A Study in Equity and Vulnerability

Jakarta is facing an escalating environmental crisis, characterized by frequent flooding, land subsidence and rising sea levels. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government has announced the relocation of its capital to a newly planned city, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo. While having the ambition to be the world's most sustainable city, the capital move raises critical questions about environmental justice, urban resilience and political priorities. This thesis investigates how flooding in Jakarta and the development of Nusantara reflect broader patterns in inequality and power in urban planning. The study adopts a qualitative case study approach, combining semi-structured interviews, field observations and document analysis. Grounded in the concepts of environmental justice, urban resilience, along with filtering and framing, the analysis focuses on how planning decisions shape risk, protection and participation. The findings reveal a troubling trade-off: as Jakarta's most vulnerable residents remain exposed to severe flood risks, political and financial resources are redirected to Nusantara. The new capital, though branded as sustainable, is shown by top-down planning and elite interests, mirroring the exclusionary practices seen in Jakarta. Corruption and fragmented governance further undermine the legitimacy of both projects. This study concludes that the relocation of the capital does not solve Jakarta's crisis, it shifts focus away from it. As public funds and political will are invested in building a new city. Jakarta's poorest residents are left behind in a sinking and increasingly inhabitable environment. In doing so, it reveals an ethical dilemma at the heart of Indonesia's urban planning: resilience is pursued for some, while others are left behind.