The EU and Indonesia have cemented their cooperation on green and blue growth with the launch, on Wednesday 22 February, of a joint working group on this issue. The news was announcement on the same day by Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella, following his meeting in Jakarta with Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya.
Tackling marine pollution, protecting biodiversity, tackling deforestation, combating the traffic in threatened animal and plant species, the circular economy, adaptation to the effects of climate change and low-carbon growth in implementing the Paris Agreement will be the many areas on which this group will work. In a piece published in The Jakarta Post on 21 February, Vella set out the scale of the closely inter-woven challenges facing this sustainable development cooperation effort.
Tackling marine pollution – “In less than 10 years our oceans could contain one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish” – will naturally be one of the priorities of efforts to strengthen international oceans governance (see EUROPE 11665). In October of this year, the EU will host the fourth “Our Ocean” conference and, in 2018, the event will be held in Indonesia.
“But the European Union and Indonesia are not just partnering when it comes to keeping our oceans healthy. We are also working together to ensure the sustainability of ‘green’ land-based resources. Indonesia’s forest landscapes are unique biodiversity hotspots, they provide income for rural communities, and shelter all from extreme climatic events. That makes illegal logging or unsustainable palm oil production critically important challenges, as the consequences are social, economic, and environmental”, the commissioner stated.
A crucial step was taken on addressing deforestation with the first FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) licences being issued for the export to the EU of legally felled Indonesian timber and timber products, supporting sustainable exploitation of the forestry resource (see EUROPE 11677).
Given that the EU is an importer of “precious timber, beautiful fish and snake skins”, the commissioner argues that it is the EU’s “duty”, to step up cooperation with Indonesia against global wildlife trafficking, “targeting the organised criminal groups that control this illegal trade” that is worth an eye-watering €20 billion per year.
Transition to a circular economy is in its early stages and needs to be accelerated. “It’s also great to see that the principles of the circular economy – smart use of resources, minimal waste and maximum re-use and recycling of materials – are gaining ground among Indonesian businesses. A more circular economy will also help reduce carbon emissions, a goal both we have all committed to in ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement”, stated Commissioner Vella. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)