VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar stated Indonesia’s commitment in handling solid waste at sea by 70 percent by 2025. The commitment was conveyed by Minister Siti Nurbaya before 26 ambassadors, including 10 ambassadors of ASEAN member countries and 16 ambassadors of ASEAN Partner countries, who participated in the ASEAN Coastal Clean Up 2019 event at the Mangrove Natural Park, Angke Kapuk, Jakarta, last Saturday.

Minister Siti Nurbaya said that Indonesia realized the challenges ahead would be even greater. Only through cooperation and collaboration these important problems can be overcome. Siti Nurbaya asserted that the Indonesian government has taken strategic steps in handling solid waste at sea, especially plastic, and has implemented the UN Agenda in 2030 for sustainable development.

These commitments include reducing solid waste at sea by 70 percent by 2025. He said, in the initial steps of this commitment, President Joko Widodo had issued a Presidential Decree on the National Policy and Waste Management Strategy in 2017. President Joko Widodo had also issued a Presidential Decree Number 83 year 2018 which discusses the strategic action plan to deal with marine waste from 2018 to 2025.

Siti Nurbaya also said, Indonesia had prepared a National Action Plan to reduce plastic waste through various activities in collaboration with all stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, communities, who had taken the initiative and innovation in combating this issue.Besides strengthening at home through the collaboration of all parties, Indonesian Government also actively involved in overcoming sea pollution within the framework of international cooperation.

To ensure all of these commitments, Indonesia has established a Regional Capacity Center for Clean Seas (RC3S) in Bali. This center will strengthen capacity building in the field of marine environmental protection from land-based activities.

Meanwhile ASEAN Secretary General, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, who was also present at the ASEAN Coastal Clean Up 2019 appreciated the Indonesian Government in terms of waste management and also appreciated the seriousness of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in involving young people and the community to care for the environment.