Indonesia will declare its commitment to combat plastic debris in marines on Feb 23 when it hosts the fourth World's Ocean Summit in Bali, the country's environment minister said.
Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said on Saturday (Feb 18) Indonesia is among 10 countries committed to combating the problem.
"Indonesia has received special attention because we are one of 10 countries, including Brazil, committed to cleaning up waste in the ocean," she said during the commemoration of National Waste Awareness Day in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
Siti added that the government would officially declare the commitment on Feb 23.
Indonesia is also scheduled to present a national action plan during the fourth World's Ocean Summit in Bali from Feb 22 to 24.
In January 2016, a World Economic Forum report concluded that with the current trajectory, there would be more plastic than fish measured by weight in the world's oceans by 2050.
A previous study by APEC estimated that marine pollution cost member economies US$1.3 billion.
Moreover, 95 per cent of the value of plastic packaging material, worth US$80-120 billion annually, is lost to the global economy.
Source : The Straits Times
