Indonesia optimistic of cutting ocean plastic waste by 70 per cent

Jakarta - Indonesia is optimistic about reducing plastic waste in the ocean by 70 per cent by 2025.

Acting deputy secretary for maritime human resources coordination at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Aniza stressed that the target is relatively big and ambitious. However, the government, especially the relevant institutions, must be confident of setting a higher target to protect the underwater ecosystem from the threat of plastic waste pollution.

Based on data obtained by the coordinating ministry, in 2023, around 12.87 million tonnes of plastic waste was scattered in Indonesian seas. The government has implemented several policies to tackle this, including the "Indonesia Mission 2024". One of the policies focuses on studying waste and microplastics in the Indonesian seas.

During a series of research conducted by global ocean exploration non-profit organisation OceanX with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Indonesia, researchers found plastic waste at certain depths but not as much as in other countries.

The results of the research on microplastics are deemed very important as study materials or an early warning for the government and the wider community to protect the oceans from waste pollution.

It is said that microplastics can pollute the sea and associated ecosystems. If fish eat microplastics and are consumed by the public, it could pose a threat to public health.

Floods and landslides following prolonged high-intensity rains on June 19 have been isolating over 4,000 residents in West Nias, North Sumatra, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) of Indonesia.

One person was killed and two others went missing following a flood in Parigi Moutong regency, Central Sulawesi province in Indonesia, the country's national disaster management agency reported on June 23.

The Indonesian government and President-Elect Prabowo Subianto have agreed to allocate 71 trillion IDR (approximately 4 billion USD) for a free school lunch programme in the 2025 state budget, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a press conference in Jakarta on June 24.