Growing concerns of Indonesia’s marine litter problem has actually pushed the Indonesian government to take action through the Presidential Regulation no. 81/2018 on the Handling of Marine Debris, where the National Plan of Action of Marine Debris aims to reduce 70 percent of marine plastic litter by 2025.
This Plan of Action aligns with the Government Regulation No. 81/2012 on the Management of Household Waste and the Likes; and the Presidential Regulation No. 97/2017 on National Policy and Strategy for the Management of Household Waste and the Likes, where it is aiming for 30 percent reduction of waste generation and increase waste handling up to 70 percent by 2025.
Indonesia’s greenhouse emission reduction
In a bigger perspective, Indonesia apparently has a new mission of greenhouse emission reduction to accomplish.
The Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, at the the opening of the 26th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Forestry (COFO 26) in Rome, Italy, on Monday (October 3, 2022) local time, unveiled that the country’s emission reduction targets by 2050 are increased to 31.89 percent from 29 percent by the country’s own resources and capabilities. Taking into account international support, this figure can further be increased to 43.20 percent from a previous target of 41 percent.
Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar was quoted by Indonesia’s state-owned news agency ANTARA, as saying that the Environment and Forestry Ministry, last week delivered the new targets in Indonesia’s Enhanced NDC or nationally determined contributions document. These new targets update Indonesia’s ‘Long-Term Strategy for Low-Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050 (LTS-LCCR 2050)’ submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat in July 2022.
Indonesia, the minister said, is also committed to address various environmental problems, including climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, declining marine health, deforestation, pollution, waste, food and water accessibility issues.
Indonesia’s target is relatively low compared to the European Green Deal for countries in the European Union. On 14 july 2021, the European Commission unveiled its plan to meet 55 percent emission reduction by 2030, first step of the carbon neutrality set for 2050. The EU has also proposed to adjust its policies in the climate, energy, transport and taxation to fit for the agenda of reducing the net greenhouse gas emissions.
Circular economy initiatives and projects in Indonesia
In Indonesia, there are a number of pilot projects and initiatives run by the governments, the private sectors and non-government organizations related to a circular economy implementation. In a report written by Bappenas, an NGO and the Embassy of Denmark in Jakarta, there are 36 initiatives mentioned that could showcase economics, social and environmental benefits.
On top of the 36 initiatives, there is also the “Rethinking Plastic” initiative, a pilot project under the auspices of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). This project is run through close cooperation with international, and national and local partners, as well as the EU Delegation in Indonesia.
Henriette Færgemann, the First Counselor for Environment, Climate Action, ICT at Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia commented about this project: “Utilizing the lesson learnt of European Union, Rethinking Plastics project facilitates the policy change towards sustainable plastic waste management, sustainable consumption of plastics, and addressing sea-based marine litter; through series of dialogues, studies, public campaign as well pilot project activities.”
There are six pilot projects under the Rethinking Plastic project. One of the projects is called “Eco-Ranger Initiative Fishing for Litter (FfL)” which is led by the Greeneration Foundation (GF) through EcoRanger Banyuwangi.