Abu Dhabi. Clean Rivers has committed up to $20 million (Rp 323.5 billion) to initiatives in Indonesia aimed at preventing 30,000 tons of plastic waste from entering the ocean annually.

The global non-profit, dedicated to addressing riverine plastic pollution, will be the official implementation partner of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs of Indonesia.

“I am proud of the collaborative spirit the UAE and Indonesia show in overcoming this huge challenge. Our two great countries have already made fantastic progress in deploying nature-based solutions to combat climate change. I look forward to seeing positive results from this important initiative," said Mohammed Saeed Sultan Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, in his statement on Thursday.

The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between the UAE and Indonesia to address the urgent environmental challenge of plastic waste leaking into the ocean. Annually, an estimated 1-2 million tons of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans, posing significant health and environmental risks to communities and ecosystems.

Under the agreement, the UAE and Indonesia will cooperate in various vital areas, including capacity building, stakeholder awareness, and the design and delivery of economically sustainable circular waste systems. The MoU will also facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, focusing on reducing plastic pollution in the ocean and expediting river cleanups in Indonesia.

Clean Rivers aims to deliver transformative programs to tackle plastic pollution in Indonesia. By catalyzing the creation of circular economies, the organization will help manage plastic waste, drive behavioral change, and stimulate local innovation.

Nani Hendiarti, Deputy for Forestry and Environmental Management at the Maritime and Investment Affairs Coordinating Ministry of Indonesia, praised the collaborative agreement, stating that the support from the UAE has been instrumental in amplifying Indonesia's initiatives.

Butti Almheiri, Clean Rivers Board Member, emphasized that the organization will work in partnership with governments, local communities, and the private sector to drive comprehensive solutions to both the long-and-short-term impacts of plastic pollution in rivers. This work aims to support the socio-economic development of communities living alongside some of the world’s most polluted waterways, particularly in Indonesia.