VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

PHOTO : VOI/NUKE

Indonesian environment and forestry ministry held an ASEAN Coastal Clean-up 2019 at one of mangrove forest in the Northern part of Jakarta last Saturday (30/11). Twenty-six ambassadors from ASEAN member states and ASEAN partner countries attended the event. In her opening speech, Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya, welcome all ambassadors and asked them to clean up the area along the mangrove forest. She also said that this event was part of Indonesia's commitment for the sustainability of the planet, particularly on the issues of coastal and marine areas as the legacy for future generations, so that they can still enjoy and live in harmony with nature. 

"Related to the reduction of marine pollution from land-based activities, Indonesia has made a commitment to reduce solid waste up to 70 percent by 2025. To achieve this commitment, in 2017, President Joko Widodo issued in a Presidential Decree regarding the National Policy and Strategy on Solid Waste Management. The Indonesian Government has also issued a Presidential Decree Number 38 of 2018 addressing strategic action plan on combating marine debris from 2018 – 2025. Indonesia has also launched a  National Action Plan to reduce plastic waste through various activities that must be carried out by all stakeholders in Indonesia. In line with this regulation, various stakeholders, including local government, businesses, communities, have taken initiatives and innovations in combattting marine litter" Minister Siti said. 

All ASEAN member states have already put the program in place but some are advance and some are not advance, so ASEAN working on it to make sure that waste management is part of the action plan. ASEAN focuses next year to recycle waste for energy as well as other purposes. ASEAN Secretary General, Dato Lim Jock Hoi said that Indonesia has many advance environmental programs. Indonesia and ASEAN are very aware about environment which is in line with SDG's. 

"There are a lot of environmental programs being implemented by Indonesian government not only program but also rules and regulations. There are so many rules that are enable Indonesian government to take action to reduce waste management, plastic and they even have  a center in Bali for marine plastic. I think Indonesia and ASEAN are very conscious about environment in line with SDG. So we are working very closely among ourself and among ASEAN member states and especially Indonesia. This year alone we have declaration on plastic debris and we have view centers now, one in Bali and the other one in Phuket. So we work closely in order to reduce environmental degradation in ASEAN. We know the impact on environment to our society, to our environment, so we believe this is a good inisiative and we should pursue it in the future" Asean Secretary General said. 

The Center will serve as a hub to strengthen capacity building in the field of protection of the marine environment from land-based activities, in particular nutrients, waste water and marine litter/microplastics. The center will seek to develop co-operation with relevant global and regional entities, other relevant international organizations, private sectors entities, and non-governmental organizations. Globally, people faced new challenges in marine environmental issues, such as increased in nutrients pollution, sewage and waste water pollution, and marine litter. Marine litter, especially plastics and microplastics pollution, has been a complex problem affecting ecosystems, social interactions, the economy, the health and the quality of life of the community. It has been estimated that around 80 % of marine pollution, including marine litter, come from land-based activities//NK/AHM/EDT