Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry Shows Full Commitment to End Plastic Pollution through RESIK Campaign, Supported by the Canadian Embassy

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - The main event of the RESIK (Redefining Solutions on Plastic Pollution Towards Integrated Policy and Knowledge) campaign was successfully organized on Thursday, 20 June 2024. This event reaffirms the full commitment of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry in engaging multiple stakeholders at ending plastic pollution in Indonesia. The event aims to create a collaborative platform for all stakeholders to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of taking real action toward this issue.

Entitled “Aksi Apik untuk Bumi Resik,” this event includes a book launch on communication strategies for addressing plastic pollution, the announcement of the winners of the RESIK competition, a talk show on Building a Greener Community: Public Involvement and Innovation, and an exhibition of artwork and outputs of the RESIK Campaign. Through these activities, the RESIK campaign is well-positioned to inspire follow-up actions from the government, civil society, and the private sector to ensure successful implementation of plastic pollution reduction across Indonesia.

In 2023, Indonesia has successfully reduced its plastic waste ending up in the ocean from 615,674 tonnes in 2018 to 359,061 tonnes, a significant 41.68% reduction. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry has also introduced a regulation on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), MoEF Regulation No. 75 of 2019, which mandates producers to reduce their waste by 30% by 2029. With the International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution targeted to be completed by INC-5 in South Korea, the RESIK campaign further solidifies Indonesia’s commitment to end plastic pollution.

Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, Head of the Indonesian Delegation to the INC and Director General of PSLB3 of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said, "The RESIK programme is a good initiative for reflecting Indonesia's commitment to end plastic pollution including in the marine environment, as well as to support achieving marine plastic litter reduction target 70% by 2025 as set up in National Action Plan (NAP) on Marine Litter Handling".

Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Jess Dutton, reiterated Canada’s commitment to taking ambitious action to end plastic waste and pollution: “We are committed to working with all countries and partners to develop an ambitious and effective global instrument on plastic pollution by the end of 2024, with the goal to end plastic pollution by 2040. We believe that efforts to protect the environment – whether in Indonesia or Canada – will only succeed if we take an inclusive approach that emphasizes engagement and dialogue with all stakeholders. The event today was designed in this spirit and I commend the Government of Indonesia for its leadership on this important issue”.

The entire campaign was supported by the Canadian Embassy in Indonesia and the Secretariat of the National Coordination Team for Marine Debris Management (TKN PSL). The launch of the RESIK campaign was conducted in February 2024 through seminars and workshops. Since then, a series of RESIK competition events were also launched to raise public awareness on the issue of plastic pollution.

At this main event, the awarding session of RESIK competition, also supported by Diet Plastik Indonesia, were also convened. The RESIK competition includes infographic, short film, and TikTok/Instagram design competitions. As an effort to increase the involvement of the wider community as a driver of change in ending the issue of plastic pollution, this is certainly in line with global action in formulating the upcoming Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution.

RESIK also organised a Focus Group Discussion with various stakeholders in April 2024, which discussed the core elements of tackling plastic pollution from upstream to downstream. Inspired by the word "RESIK" which means "clean" in Javanese, the campaign tagline is: "Let's Make Indonesia More Resik, Stop Plastic Pollution!"

At the end of her remarks, Rosa Vivien continued, "Hopefully, the spirit of the campaign through RESIK will not fade or end here, but will continue to flourish and extend its reach”.