Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 08/2011

Climate Insecurities in Indonesia: Implications and Challenges for Defence Transformation

Evan A. Laksmana

July 2011

Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies

Abstract

This paper seeks to identify and assess key climate insecurities in Indonesia and further explore how they could potentially influence the process of defence reform that has been ongoing in Indonesia since Suharto's downfall in 1998. Key climate insecurities in Indonesia are related to energy and food security, large-scale disasters, drought, changing climate patterns and rising sea levels. Furthermore, this paper argues that given these security implications, the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) has yet to seriously assess and incorporate climate change into its force development plans. Finally, this paper outlines some of the key challenges and prospects for TNI's defence reform process, as it relates to climate change.