Enviro News Asia, Belem — Indonesia and the United Kingdom formalized a strengthened bilateral partnership on environmental protection through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (KLH/BPLH) and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The agreement was concluded on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém and marks a significant step forward in advancing joint action on environmental governance, circular economy development, and pollution control.
The MoU establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation that includes improving environmental legislation and enforcement, enhancing air and water quality management, addressing hazardous waste, and accelerating the transition toward a circular economy, particularly through strengthened efforts to combat plastic pollution. Collaborative activities will be conducted through technical exchanges, joint projects, training programs, research collaborations, and coordinated inter-ministerial initiatives supported by a newly formed Joint Steering Committee.
“This MoU represents a practical and equitable collaboration between Indonesia and the United Kingdom to enhance environmental governance, accelerate solutions to plastic and waste management challenges, and open innovative financing pathways for ecosystem protection,” stated Minister of Environment/Head of BPLH Hanif Faisol Nurofiq.
Indonesia welcomed the UK’s commitment to financial and technical support, including opportunities linked to nature-based carbon markets, UK PACT assistance for forestry carbon credits, progress under the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) in Kalimantan and Jambi, and potential cooperation with Bio-Fund. Both countries also agreed to explore participation in multilateral funding mechanisms such as the Friends of Cali Fund and the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), as well as UK support of up to USD 5 million for clean-air initiatives under the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
Addressing plastic pollution remains a priority. Indonesia emphasized the need to strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), while DEFRA committed to supporting UK-based companies in improving packaging management in Indonesia through policy exchange, technology transfer, and facilitation of international buyer-seller engagement. The two governments will explore pilot EPR programs, subnational capacity-building initiatives, and collaboration with global brands to enhance transparency on packaging and sustainability claims.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature at DEFRA, Mary Creagh, highlighted the UK’s enthusiasm for the partnership.
“We are exploring mechanisms to mobilize new financing for nature and carbon markets. Indonesia’s leadership in tropical peatland protection deeply resonates with our own efforts to safeguard peatlands in the UK,” she said.
The meeting underscored international recognition of Indonesia’s achievements in tropical ecosystem protection and reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to addressing plastic pollution at local, regional, and global levels. DEFRA also noted ongoing preparations for global environmental events, including the February 2026 IPBES meeting in Manchester.
Following the signing, KLH/BPLH and DEFRA agreed to develop an operational annex outlining 12–18-month priority programs, project financing mechanisms, and Terms of Reference for the Joint Steering Committee. Key near-term actions include launching a pilot EPR scheme for packaging, advancing provincial circular economy demonstration programs, conducting carbon finance feasibility studies — including FCPF work in priority locations — and developing a methane capture demonstration project from POME waste. (*)
