Jakarta – In most parts of Indonesia, January is marked by heavy rain, resulting in floods and strong current in waterways. It’s also a time when, as far as the eye can see , beaches and rivers are choked with plastic waste. As we address the environmental pressing, this month’s SDG Talks, the first in 2022, discussed the value chain  to reducing plastic waste in our waters.

Titled “Rainy Days: High Season for Marine Plastic Litter”, the event brought together researchers, CSOs and UNDP development practitioners who sought to identify innovative solutions to plastic pollution in our waterbodies whilst empowering youth to take action at the same time.

Among the surprising statistics revealed during the talk is the exponential marine waste produced by the population in the last decade, where currently in every single year, 300 million tons of waste are produced. Sadly, in Indonesia alone, the financing for waste management accounts only 5 percent of the total government’s budget on district levels.

In his opening remarks, Tomi Soetjipto, Communication Specialist, UNDP Indonesia, called for urgent action to improve waste management in Indonesia. “Climate change and large demographic changes have resulted in narrower rivers and choked water drainage systems,” he said. “But clearly, human actions, such as overconsumption, exacerbate the damage. I hope that our young generation will be on the main seat to lead us towards our effort to safeguard our environment,” he added.

Michikazu Kojima, Research Fellow at The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) of ERIA, who was co-host of the event, said,  “We understand the importance of young people's activism and the ability to effect change via action. We see you as a key stakeholder in what we're doing, particularly in terms of innovative approaches to addressing marine plastic challenges and protecting the marine ecology."

Four panelists, Adithiyasanti Sofia, Program Manager at Plastic Bag Diet Movement, Laura Widyatmodjo, Founder of Junior Golfers for A Cause, Dr. M. Reza Cordova,  Researcher at Centre for Oceanography at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and Livita Sumali from UNDP Indonesia’s Archipelagic and Island States Forum reflect on the issue of waste management at the event which was moderated by Hera Diani, co-founder of women-focused magazine Magdalene.

Consistent law enforcement and strategic implementation are required to address the waste problem. Understanding the current trend and the behavior of societies may aid in the formulation of strategic reforms.

Lessons from the UK, Japan, and the Philippines, for instance, could provide a more accurate picture of Indonesia’s situation “Tokyo has a similar waste problem Even though the city had better access to education and were more disciplined, it took approximately seven years to create change  in terms of waste management,” Reza said.

The UK and the Philippines had a similar approach to single-use plastic consumption. Although law enforcement intervened to minimize plastic waste, these two countries applied it in different ways. Livita Sumali, from the AIS Secretariat, noted that “In the UK, the government issued a law prohibiting single-use plastic and enforced sanctions; while in the Philippines, the government also supported the retail consumption of the poor population through refiling approach.”

In Indonesia, there are laws  passed with the immense support of the regional governments. Adithiyasanti Sofia, Program Manager at Plastic Bag Diet Movement said “We have been working with provincial governments to make sure that regulations related to waste management be applicable and provide tangible support to eliminate waste within their respective areas.”

Reza also added that data could empower movements and accelerate them, especially by civil society groups. “Through reliable data, the core issues of marine waste can be understood, including the youth, who needs  to understand environmental issues and initiate change,” he said.

But, do little steps matter? Livita Sumali, Adithiyasanti Sofia, and Laura Widyatmodjo shared their tips to create rippling positive impact. For Adithiyasanti, starting small was important. “Do the quick surveys of the type of waste and start reducing the waste produced,” she encouraged the participants. Meanwhile, Laura reflected on her movement. “We need to lead through example. I started ‘Junior Golfers for A Cause’ when I saw plastic waste on the golf courses where I was practicing. I realized more people were suffering as the waste created foul smelling rivers,” she said

Livita added “UNDP has been working from the upstream to the downstream of the waste problem. It needs partnerships since the waste issue is a transboundary issue and also an innovative approach. Through the AIS Project and EPPIC, UNDP fosters collaboration with other Southeast Asian Countries to provide frameworks and tangible solutions by involving young innovators to join the movement.”

-

 Text by Enggi Dewanti

Edited by Tomi Soetjipto and Ranjit Jose