Prioritizing Investment Over Environmental Health and Global Action

Volunteers and local residents recently participated in a beach cleanup in Lhok Bubon village, West Aceh regency, Aceh, removing plastic waste.

The government's prioritization of short-term economic gains from potential investments in the plastic industry is concerning. Disagreements among countries regarding plastic pollution, specifically between those aiming to curb production and fossil fuel-producing nations, hindered progress in negotiations. Informal talks failed to produce any compromise for an agreement.

The Indonesian government's stance during and after the Geneva negotiations earlier this month was particularly disappointing. Environmentalists urged the delegation to prioritize public health by committing to reduce plastic production, arguing this was essential to prevent the consumption of harmful microplastics. However, the Indonesian delegation dismissed production restrictions, citing the National Medium-Term Development Plan, which prioritizes the plastic industry for investment.

Instead, government representatives focused on processing the country's 10 million tonnes of plastic waste, as a significant portion of plastic waste in Indonesia remains untreated, releasing microplastics that contaminate the environment. Following the Geneva meeting, the Environment Minister pledged "concrete, measurable, and inclusive" measures to address plastic waste, requesting up to $21 billion for waste disposal and processing sites to support a circular economy.

These commitments are considered weak, given the limited success of plastic recycling globally. The majority of plastics end up in the environment, persisting for decades. Recycling and the circular economy have become terms often used to conceal the negative impacts of plastics.

The government's focus on short-term economic benefits from the plastic industry, rather than long-term health benefits, is troubling. The economic losses from health impacts related to plastic production are substantial.

The government's alignment with fossil fuel-producing countries is also puzzling, especially considering Indonesia's vulnerability to plastic waste imports from these nations. Countries with advanced recycling programs often export their waste to countries in the Global South, which lack the capacity to handle it.

The Geneva talks should be seen as an opportunity for the government to defend its people's right to a healthy and safe environment. It is time for the new administration to take a leadership role in addressing the plastic crisis. Serious action is needed to mitigate the catastrophic impacts of plastic.