President Jokowi Calls on ASEAN Leaders to Combat Hazardous Waste
President Jokowi converses with Australian PM Scott Morrison on the Lunch On Sustainable Development, in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday (4/11). (Photo by: Rahmat/PR).
President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has expressed concern on illegal hazardous waste which has recently been received by several ASEAN countries, including Indonesia.
According to President Jokowi, the Indonesian Government has notified embassies of the countries of origin of the waste and has sent the containers back to those countries.
“Indonesia expects cooperation with countries in the world, including countries in the East Asian region, for the prevention of illegal shipment of B3 waste in accordance with international agreements,” President Jokowi said at the 14th East Asia Summit, in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday (4/11).
In the meantime, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that the Customs and Excise and Ministry of the Environment and Forestry have returned 347 out of a total 882 containers to the countries of origin. She also mentioned that President of the Philippines Duterte also did the same thing.
According to the Minister, President Jokowi also raised the issue of cooperation on handling plastic waste at sea and if the issue is not resolved immediately, marine ecosystems in the Indo-Pacific region will be damaged.
The Government, Retno added, is currently implementing a national strategy to deal with marine debris. She added that President Jokowi also expressed optimism that Indonesia can achieve the target of reducing marine waste by 70 percent by 2025.
“Member countries of the East Asia Summit should be able to encourage a global movement against plastic waste,” President Jokowi said, adding that the global movement must involve the private sector, environmental activists, the youth and millennial groups. (SLN/RAH/ES)
Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas
