Padawangi, Rita. “Climate Change and the North Coast of Jakarta: Environmental Justice and the Social Construction of Space in Urban Poor Communities.” In Research in Urban Sociology vol. 12 (Urban Areas and Climate Change), ed. William G. Holt III. Bingley, UK: Emerald, 2012, pp. 321‐339. Climate Change and the North Coast of Jakarta: Environmental Justice and the Social Construction of Space in Urban Poor Communities Rita Padawangi Research Fellow, Institute of Water Policy Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy National University of Singapore ritapd@nus.edu.sg Abstract Jakarta’s geographical location on the north coast of Java Island in Indonesia was a strategic place for one of the busiest colonial trade ports and fisheries in Southeast Asia. In 2010, the city issued Jakarta Master Plan 2010‐2030 that featured plans to mitigate climate change and environmental risks for the coastal area, especially sea level rise, land subsidence, and pollution. The impact of sea level rise was exacerbated by salt water intrusion and land subsidence due to over‐extraction of groundwater. Land subsidence from 1974 to 1993 reaches more than 50 cm for some areas in the north and west of Jakarta. The north coast was also prone to floods from high rainfall as well as from high tides. North Jakarta has been home for more than 48,000 poor households, most of which live in houses less than 50 square meters in informal settlements with lack of basic needs infrastructures. This chapter addresses the question, “How are poor communities in the north coast of Jakarta affected by extreme weather events, and how are their everyday experiences addressed in master plan Jakarta 2010‐2030?” The chapter focuses on two main issues: 1) the making of place‐based communities of the urban poor in the north coast of Jakarta compared to the master plan, and 2) the impact of climate change to the urban poor’s livelihoods in the north coast. Analysis is based on community profiles, census information, and a workshop with representatives of these communities. The study reveals that communities were unaware of what the city planners have drafted, but most of them realized climate challenges based on their everyday experience. They aspired to be involved in the planning process, but their informal status hampered their opportunity to be heard. Introduction Over the years, the face of Jakarta’s north coast has changed. Historically, the Indonesian capital’s coast had been a busy place for trade, commerce, and settlements. However, environmental challenges have crept in along with the speedy growth of the city over post‐independence economic development. From an estimated population of 1.17 million in 1948, it has grown to 9 million in 2008 (Silver, 2008; Badan Pusat Statistik, 2010). Limited consideration to environmental management has brought environmental hazards to the city, which include floods, land subsidence, and salt water intrusion. Jakarta’s north coast has become the most vulnerable area to these environmental challenges. It is also facing sea level rise of