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When listicles titled “11 sinking cities around the world” or “5 cities that will be drowned” start popping up more frequently on social media and news portals, something isn’t right. The world is sinking, and our maps are likely to be redrawn by global warming in the not-so-distant future. This is an unavoidable reality that puts millions of lives at risk.

The usual suspects of rapid urbanization, rising sea levels, and land subsidence have all contributed to this climate crisis. It has already left a marked impact on one of the largest Southeast Asian markets: Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia and home to more than 10 million people, has the unfortunate label of “the fastest sinking city in the world.”

Almost half of Jakarta sits below sea level, and some researchers believe that if the capital’s issues related to rising sea levels continue to go unchecked, parts of the city will be entirely submerged by 2050. Jakarta's problem is so dire that the Indonesian government passed a bill to move its capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan on Borneo island.

The unprecedented move is one of the first capital relocations to be driven by environmental forces and it is unlikely to be the last, as Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok all stare at a similar threat.

Startups and governments are taking note of this problem and are now scampering to find viable solutions. In our premium story pick today, we analyze the feasibility, potential, and challenges that face a startup pitching floating houses and infrastructure as the answer to a global conundrum.

Also, if you’re an entrepreneur looking for funding, fill out this form to get your company featured on our list of fundraising startups.

THE BIG STORY

ORIGINALS VIDEO

Is Vietnam the next startup hotspot after Indonesia?

In episode 1 of Startup Frontiers: Vietnam, we look at the unique talent and capabilities that are driving Vietnam’s startup ecosystem and how these aspects will affect the community’s growth in the near future. Watch now.

TRENDING NEWS

EVENTS HAPPENING

• *Event* [Workshop] How to protect your business from inflation on February 24th
  With global inflation rates being the highest they have been in decades, keeping profit margins healthy will be a challenge for startups.
  Join us on February 24 as Billy Naveed, the chief strategy officer at Smile Group, explains how startups should approach runway, burn, valuation, and fundraising in these times. Click here to reserve your seat.
• International Women's Day Luncheon 2022 on March 8th
  Each year, Tech in Asia celebrates #IWD to promote equal representation and opportunities for women in the tech industry. On 8 March, we are inviting startup leaders to join an interactive and engaging 3- course luncheon in Singapore, to uncover actionable ways they can #breakthebias.
  This is a small-group event, with Dione Song (CEO, Love, Bonito), Juliet Zhu (CFO, Carsome) as well as Tech in Asia’s COO Maria Li will be joining to share their experiences and stories. We will facilitate candid conversations on career, life and leadership, to help attendees make meaningful connections.
  Limited seats available. RSVP now!
• AWS SaaS Forum on March 8th
  Join the AWS SaaS Forum on March 8 to uncover opportunities and insights on SaaS trends, outlook for 2022 and how to build your business playbook. Attendance is complimentary.

Are you a startup with an innovative digital solution looking to solve real-world business challenges, accelerate your innovation growth and benefit from mentorship opportunities? IMDA's Open Innovation Platform (OIP) will be launching Innovation Call 13 soon! To receive first-hand news when it launches, enjoy the hottest innovation news, exclusive event invitations and more, sign up for the OIP mailing list.

WHO'S HIRING

You can post a job here or search for jobs here.

• HR Recruiter - Tech/Crypto at Avarik Saga
  Jakarta, Indonesia
• Senior Security Engineer - Blue Team at Bibit
  Jakarta, Indonesia
• iOS Engineer at Style Theory
  Jakarta, Indonesia
• Human Resources Assistant at mytripology
  Tangerang, Indonesia
• Intern Talent Live Streaming at Indopasifik Teknologi Medika Indonesia
  Jakarta, Indonesia
• Associate QA Engineer at PT Barito Integra Teknologi
  Jakarta, Indonesia