Ambassador's Blog: Local Environmental Challenges and Making a Difference

A highlight of my time in Indonesia has been the chance to visit some of the wonderful parts of this archipelago of over 17,000 islands. I’ve been struck by the physical beauty of Indonesia, the rich cultures and wonderful friendly people, and the biodiversity that’s still evident in many places. But one of the disappointments has been the impact of careless disposal of rubbish – whether in the canals and waterways of Jakarta, the beaches of Flores or the national parks, trash threatens to overwhelm many ecosystems and poses health risks.

My goal in discussing them here is not to criticise, but to inform and to encourage those who are making a huge commitment to try and achieve change to stick to it. The fundamental challenge here is attitudinal. If people think about the consequences of throwing something away and manage waste carefully, a huge difference can be made quickly.

Read the Ambassador's full blog entry at http://blogs.mfat.govt.nz/david-taylor/local-environmental-challenges-an...