Camille Gallego

Committee: UNEP
Topic: Ocean Pollution
Country: Indonesia

Ocean Pollution: Indonesia

Within the many issues of human-environment interaction is ocean pollution. The impact
of polluting the oceans that make up 75% of the earth is major and threatening. Damaging our
oceans in this way causes mass death among marine life and consequently decreases the
availability of basic necessities. Also, in a broader view, ocean pollution leads to climate change
of which negatively affects life. Our deliberate, as well as indirect, dumping of waste into the
ocean disrupts the homeostasis of all habitats. The millions of tons of plastic that we put into the
ocean as well as frequent oil spills/chemical runoff are causing irreversible damage to our
planet. Indonesia is a large producer of the plastic pollution in our oceans and is simultaneously
suffering the repercussions of this global matter. In perspective of Indonesia, the fundamental
issue is the production and discarding of plastic. Ocean pollution is not only causing tension
politically, but it is also affecting the well-being of contemporary and future life.
Due to pollutants in the ocean, Indonesia faces environmental and economic distress.
Indonesia is currently ranked as the second country that casts out the most plastic debris into
the world's oceans (China being first). Only 10% of plastic is recycled globally, and the outcome
of this is readily seen in the overflowing landfills in Indonesia. Millions of marine species have
died as a result of plastic in the Indonesian seas either by being entangled, suffocated,
drowned, or starved from ingesting too much of it. Seafood is a staple cuisine in Indonesia and
when the marine life consumes the plastic we emit, they are then contaminated with dangerous
toxins. This is not only fatal for the animals consuming it, but it also is having negative effects on
the health of the Indonesian people that eat these poisoned creatures. The fishing industry is
significant in Indonesia, and the plastic oceans that surround the Island are killing off the
abundance of fish that used to exist there many years ago. Fishermen are losing their source of
income by not being able to carry out their jobs because of the lack of fish. Also, the once
beautiful waters of indonesia that are now plastic-filled are expected to cause a decrease in
tourism, which is Indonesia’s biggest economic sector. Operators of this sector will see a
decrease in their income because of this. Many environmental activist communities and NGOs
have organized beach clean-ups as well as made efforts to influence new pollution laws. The
governor of Bali has made vows to enact a $1 billion ocean pollution curb of 70% by the year
2025. Also, they have stated commitments to ban plastic bags by 2018.
On behalf of Indonesian delegates, the United Nations should first take hasty action
towards cleansing our oceans and beaches of already existing plastic pollutants. Countries with
overflow of plastic debris should organize frequent events to help replenish their ocean’s water.
The industry of plastic should be diminished to prevent this issue from continuing at this rate.
Also, the committee primarily calls upon the alternative replacement of petroleum plastic with
biodegradable products. Biodegradable plastics are not only recyclable, but they will break
down instead of being harmfully durable in the marine environment. In particular, hemp based
biodegradables should be pursued because this plant is environmentally friendly and is easy to
grow. The delegates of Indonesia express hope that other countries of the UN will take these
necessary steps into careful consideration; save our planet and the beings that live upon it.

Works Cited
United Nations. “Indonesia Against Marine Plastic Debris”. The Ocean Conference. United
Nations. 15 April 2018. https://oceanconference.un.org/commitments/?id=14387

Sheany. “Indonesia Plays Prominent Role At UN Ocean Conference”. JakartaGlobe. 7 June

2017. Jakarta Globe. 15 April 2018. http://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-plays-
prominent-role-un-ocean-conference/

Taufan, Muhammad. “Oceans of Plastic: Fixing Indonesia’s Marine Debris Pollution Laws”. The
Diplomat. 26 Jan. 2017. The Diplomat. 15 April 2018.
https://thediplomat.com/2017/01/oceans-of-plastic-fixing-indonesias-marine-debris-
pollution-laws/

Wright, Thomas. “Indonesia Vows to Tackle Marine Pollution”. The Conversation. 22 March
2017. The University of Queensland. 15 April 2018.
https://theconversation.com/indonesia-vows-to-tackle-marine-pollution-74038

Wright, Thomas. “How Can Indonesia Win Against Plastic Pollution”. The Conversation. 5 Sept.
2017. The University of Queensland. 15 April 2018.
https://theconversation.com/how-can-indonesia-win-against-plastic-pollution-80966