Climate Displacement and Legal Gaps: Advancing Human Rights and Digital Environmental Governance in Indonesia

Faculty of Law, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: mohammad.hazyar@umy.ac.id

Abstract

Climate-induced displacement represents a growing challenge in Indonesia, where rising sea levels, extreme weather, and environmental degradation threaten the livelihoods and habitats of millions. Despite the intensifying nature of this crisis, Indonesia lacks a coherent legal framework to address the human rights and governance implications of climate-induced migration. This manuscript investigates the legal deficiencies that leave climate-displaced communities vulnerable and explores how digital governance tools can support anticipatory governance and legal protection. Two core research questions guide the inquiry: What are the key legal deficiencies in protecting individuals displaced by environmental and climate-related events in Indonesia? and how can digital innovations enhance anticipatory governance and support legal protections for climate migrants? Through normative and doctrinal legal analysis, supported by a review of statutory law, international human rights obligations, and digital governance initiatives, this study identifies critical gaps in both environmental and migration law. It also demonstrates how technologies such as digital civil registries, early warning systems, and environmental data platforms can be leveraged to enhance state responsiveness, community participation, and institutional accountability. The findings underscore the need for an integrated legal and digital policy response to ensure that climate-induced displacement does not lead to further injustice but becomes an opportunity for rights-based, adaptive governance.