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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Forge Environmental Cooperation Pact

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are strengthening environmental cooperation to address cross-border challenges, including waste management and ecosystem protection.
  • The collaboration is a key agenda item at the 6th Working Group on Environment meeting for the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).
  • The meeting aims to translate agreed agendas into actionable programs and share environmental innovations, such as oil spill response training and electric vehicle battery recycling concepts.

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are bolstering their environmental collaboration to tackle pressing cross-border challenges, focusing on areas like waste management, ecosystem protection, and the development of green technologies. This strengthened partnership is a central theme of the 6th Working Group on Environment meeting for the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), held in Medan, North Sumatra.

Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, emphasized the critical need for international cooperation in addressing environmental issues and climate change. She stated, "Environmental problems and climate change require cross-country cooperation. IMT-GT has become an important platform for strengthening regional cooperation, not only in economic development but also in environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Environmental challenges now transcend national borders, necessitating stronger coordination and collective action."

Environmental problems and climate change require cross-country cooperation. IMT-GT has become an important platform for strengthening regional cooperation, not only in economic development, but also in environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Environmental challenges now transcend national borders, necessitating stronger coordination and collective action.

— Rosa Vivien RatnawatiSecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, highlighting the importance of regional environmental collaboration.

Indonesia has put forth three priority agendas for the collaboration: enhancing synergy between regional cooperation and ASEAN/global environmental targets, promoting concrete projects in waste management, nature conservation, and marine protection, and expanding partnerships with local governments, the private sector, academia, and youth.

The meeting also served as a platform for sharing innovative environmental solutions. Thailand presented its plans for oil spill response training in marine environments, while Malaysia showcased its 'battery passport' concept to support electric vehicle battery recycling. Indonesia highlighted an integrated waste management facility operated by PT Sumatera Deli Lestari Indah as an example of environmentally friendly industrial practices. The participants expressed hope that the forum would yield actionable outcomes for all member states, with commitments from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the ASEAN Secretariat to develop these into projects benefiting the region's communities.

We hope this meeting produces concrete input that can be followed up by each member state.

— P Jeevananth A/L PaliahChair of the IMT-GT Working Group on Environment from Malaysia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, on the meeting's objectives.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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