TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) head of the applied climate service center, Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, assessed that Indonesia’s only glacier in Puncak Jaya Wijaya of Papua will definitely melt away in a few years due to global warming or climate change.

“The temperature on the surface of Puncak Jaya is already higher than its melting point of around 5 degrees Celsius. So it will surely disappear,” said Ardhasena in a public discussion held by Change.org on Wednesday, December 8.

He explained climate change has increased the presence of tropical cyclones over the years in the archipelago, such as the Cempaka tropical storm in 2017 and the Seroja tropical storm in 2021. He said the two phenomena are rare yet bring direct impacts on the country’s territory.

Ardhasena also said that climate change, which mainly contributes to the surge in sea surface temperatures, is the source of the growth of tropical cyclones. It also causes the sea level to increase and poses a threat to small islands and coastal areas.

Additionally, the climate crisis continues to increase greenhouse gases in Indonesia. Based on BMKG observations, SF6 gas which entirely originates from human activities kept rising from year to year. Natural gas such as CO2, CH4, and N2O also increase due to anthropogenic activities.

“Climate change requires all of us to do mitigation efforts and make an adaptation,” said Ardhasena. The BMKG thus, he added, urges vital sectors to adapt, including agriculture, health, water resources, forestry, tourism, and renewable energy sectors.

Read: Tropical Cyclone Teratai; BMKG Warns of Extreme Weather in West Java

JESSICA ESTER