Indonesia warns sea-level rise must not alter legal maritime borders

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has warned that the global climate crisis — specifically rising sea levels — must not be allowed to create international legal uncertainty regarding national maritime borders.

Speaking at a UN High-Level Meeting on Addressing the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-Level Rise in New York, Sugiono asserted that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must remain the definitive legal framework governing maritime issues.

"Changes caused by sea-level rise should not diminish lawfully established state baselines, maritime entitlements, and outer limits," Sugiono said in remarks broadcast via UN Web TV monitored here on Friday (September 25).

He urged the international community to ensure the consistent and coherent application of UNCLOS and customary international law, aligning with interpretations by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

"Our task now is to work together in ensuring that rising seas do not take away what generations have built and what future generations deserve," he said.

Sugiono noted that sea-level rise poses a profound threat to coastal communities, leading to the loss of homes, disrupted livelihoods, and broad risks to public safety — particularly for archipelagic nations.

"Indonesia understands this reality. As the world's largest archipelagic state situated in the Indo-Pacific, the sea is inseparable from our identity, our economy, and our future," he added.

To mitigate these environmental impacts, Jakarta has launched several domestic initiatives, including rehabilitating over 13,000 hectares of mangrove forests under a coastal resilience program.

Additionally, the government plans to construct a Giant Sea Wall along the northern coast of Java, a densely populated region highly vulnerable to both land subsidence and rising tides.

Sugiono emphasized that effective mitigation measures must be rooted in science and accurate data. This enables governments to make informed decisions, develop resilient early warning systems, and provide stronger protections for vulnerable populations.

To ensure global climate resilience, he called for accessible, adequate, and sustainable financing, alongside technology transfers and capacity-building for developing nations.

"Resilience must go further. It must protect ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and create more economic opportunities," Sugiono concluded.

Related news: Govt refines Giant Sea Wall master plan to curb Java coastal flooding

Related news: Prabowo urges universities to join Giant Sea Wall construction

Translator: Uyu Septiyati Liman
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2026