Indonesia dreams big. A shiny new capital called Nusantara is rising in the heart of Borneo, promising high-speed trains, solar-powered towers, and zero-emission policies. Global media call it “visionary.” Investors call it “intriguing.” The rainforest? It calls for help.
But beneath all the smart city branding lies a familiar pattern: cleared forests, silenced Indigenous communities, and ambitious blueprints drawn far from local voices. Nusantara claims to be green—but what does green mean when it grows on broken roots?
This isn’t just urban planning. It’s a race to be noticed. To impress. To relocate a nation’s capital without relocating its conscience.
Indonesia is building a new capital. Not because Jakarta is broken, but because fixing it is too hard. So, why not start fresh? In the middle of a rainforest. With a dream. And a bulldozer.
Jakarta: Sinking, Polluted, and Ignored
Jakarta is sinking. Literally. Some parts drop 25 centimeters each year. The city is choking on traffic and smog. But instead of fixing it, the government chose to leave. Like a tenant abandoning a flooded apartment.
Nusantara: The Green Dream (After the Trees Are Gone)
Nusantara is marketed as a smart, green, sustainable city. Solar panels, electric buses, vertical gardens. Sounds great—until you realize it’s being built on cleared rainforest. Trees out, tech in. Progress, right?
The government promises a “forest city.” But first, they must remove the forest. Irony is the national strategy.
Indigenous Voices: Heard Only in Ceremonies
The land belongs to Indigenous communities. The Dayak and Paser people have lived there for generations. But in planning meetings, they’re mostly decorations. Their culture is celebrated in brochures, not in policy.
One elder said, “Our land is not for sale.” The bulldozers disagreed.
Global Attention: Applause or Alarm?
International media call Nusantara “a bold urban experiment.” Investors call it “interesting.” NGOs call it “a disaster in slow motion.” The World Bank urges caution. The government nods. Then digs deeper.
A City for Whom?
If all goes well, Nusantara will be a model city. Clean, green, and mostly empty. If it fails, it will be a billion-dollar monument to ambition without accountability.
Either way, it will be studied in urban planning classes. As a case study. Or a cautionary tale.
Conclusion Nusantara New Capital
Indonesia doesn’t just need a new capital. It needs a new mindset. One that values people over prestige. Forests over facades. And justice over jargon.
Because a smart city isn’t about sensors and skyscrapers. It’s about who gets to stay when the cameras leave.
