As Indonesia gradually moves toward its new capital, Nusantara (Nusantara Capital City – IKN), the project is about more than simply building a new city on the map. It raises a bigger question: Can a modern city be designed from the very beginning to be more sustainable and better prepared to face the challenges of the future
For decades, Jakarta has been closely associated with Indonesia’s economy and political life. At the same time, however, the city has faced growing urban challenges, including congestion, pressure on infrastructure, flooding, and land subsidence in some areas. As urban growth has accelerated, the idea of establishing a new capital has created an opportunity to rethink how cities can be planned and how their resources can be managed.
In this context, Nusantara has emerged as one of Indonesia’s most interesting urban experiments. The project is not limited to relocating government institutions; it is also connected to a vision of creating a modern city that considers the environment and integrates nature with urban planning, technology, and modern transportation systems.
This is where sustainability becomes particularly important. A sustainable city does not simply mean having more trees or parks. Instead, it requires an integrated system that considers land use, the protection of natural areas, resource management, infrastructure development, and more efficient transportation, while also involving communities in decisions that shape the city’s future.
A recent scientific study on the future of Nusantara identified four major areas that could play an important role in building a more sustainable city: sustainable urban planning, green infrastructure, environmental protection, and smart mobility. These areas are also connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to sustainable cities and communities, climate action, and the protection of ecosystems.
Green infrastructure stands out as an important element of this model. A future city needs to treat nature as part of its essential infrastructure rather than simply as leftover space between buildings. Green spaces, water management, and ecosystem protection can help make the city more resilient to climate change and the pressures associated with population growth.
Mobility is another factor that could determine the success of any new city. The better the city’s transportation planning and the more efficiently its different areas are connected, the greater the potential to reduce dependence on private cars and improve residents’ everyday quality of life. For this reason, smart mobility has emerged as an important direction in studies concerning the future of Nusantara.
However, building a sustainable city cannot rely on technology alone. The study highlights the importance of participatory governance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and flexible policies, because cities are not simply buildings, roads, and technological systems. They are communities where economic, environmental, and social needs intersect.
This makes the Nusantara experience interesting beyond Indonesia itself. As cities around the world continue to face congestion, climate change, and increasing pressure on resources, new cities may provide opportunities to test different ideas before repeating the same mistakes experienced by older urban areas.
Perhaps the real question in the coming years will not simply be whether Indonesia will succeed in building a new capital, but whether it will succeed in creating a city where people and nature can coexist in a more balanced way.
From Scientific Research to “Marah Green Planet”
This article is based on a scientific study published in Sustainable Futures in 2026, entitled:
“Building a sustainable future for Indonesia's new capital, the Nusantara capital city (IKN)”
For readers who would like to explore the study, its methodology, and its findings in greater detail:
Read the full scientific paper:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188826000766