A new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) warns that Australian policymakers are underestimating the impact of climate change on national security and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. The report assesses the risks of climate-driven disruptions in Indonesia, one of Australia’s closest neighbors, and suggests that these disruptions could have far-reaching consequences across the region. The report identifies three key pathways to compounding and destabilizing climate disruptions in Indonesia: food insecurity, population displacement, and slowed economic growth. It recommends that Indonesia and its regional partners, including Australia, work together to anticipate and prepare for these disruptions through research, policy, and diplomatic efforts. The report also highlights the need for a deeper public discussion in Australia about cross-border climate risks and the need for further analyses and strategic public conversations on climate issues. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing national efforts to adapt to climate change and the high costs of inaction.
Indonesia’s vulnerability to climate-related security threats in the Indo-Pacific by 2035
