International Cooperation

EPA Collaboration with Indonesia

Indonesia is a key actor in the global environmental arena. In addition to significant ecological resources, Indonesia also has the fourth largest population in the world and the third largest greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA’s collaboration with Indonesia advances EPA's international priorities.

Highlights

High level officials from EPA and the Indonesian Ministry of Environment met in June 2014 to discuss collaboration and exchange technical information.

May 2015: EPA grantee conducts training and technical assistance on air quality monitoring in Jakarta
May 2015: EPA and Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) hold fifth environmental impact assessment (EIA) distance learning event
April 2015: U.S. Embassy Earth Day Event on Air Pollution
December 2014: EPA provides environmental enforcement training to Indonesia
September 2014: EPA provides site remediation expertise to Indonesia
August 2014: EPA and Indonesia Ministry of Environment (MOE) hold fourth EIA distance learning event
June 2014: EPA and MOE discuss joint 2015-2016 workplan under our Memorandum of Understanding
See past engagements

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Activities

Note: At the end of 2014, the Indonesia Ministry of Environment (MOE) merged with the Indonesia Ministry of Forestry to form the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF). You will see both MOE and MoEF referenced in the content below.

Building Strong Institutions and Legal Structures

a class of adult students in Indonesia listening to an EPA educator in the United States

Over 30 participants watch a distance learning class from Indonesia through a digital video conference. Photo credit: @America.

Environmental Impact Assessments: EPA and the Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) are exchanging information on development of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and permits, including recent distance learning events and a visit to EPA in Nov 2013.
Environmental Enforcement: In December 2014, EPA provided environmental enforcement training to over fifty Indonesian officials. In 2013, MOE participated in environment inspections training courses led by EPA in Singapore, Taiwan, and Bangkok. MOE officials also visited EPA in November 2013 to learn more about U.S. environmental enforcement policies.

Learn more:

EPA’s December 2014 Enforcement Training in Indonesia
Watch EIA Distance-Learning Video: Scoping for environmental impact assessments

Combating Climate Change by Limiting Pollutants

In 2010, Indonesia joined the Global Methane Initiative (GMI). Under GMI, Indonesia is an active partner in the waste and oil and gas sectors, participating in and hosting workshops and field studies.

Learn more about Indonesia's participation in the Global Methane Initiative. Exit

Improving Air Quality

MOE officials visited an air quality monitor as part of a study tour to EPA in December 2013 to learn more about U.S. air quality management practices.

In the 1990s, EPA and Indonesia collaborated to evaluate air emissions from forest fires and to phase out lead in gasoline. Over the years, EPA has been cooperating with Indonesian partners and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through work under the Global Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV).

EPA is also partnering with the City of Jakarta and the Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) on “Breathe Easy, Jakarta,” a program to improve air quality and protect human health in the capital region. Under this cooperation, several members of the “Breathe Easy, Jakarta” led training and partner meetings in Jakarta on air modelling, inventories, and monitoring in May 2015. MOE officials also visited EPA in December 2013 to learn more about U.S. air quality management practices. This program, which includes air quality management trainings and technical assistance, is intended to serve as a model for urban air quality management for other major cities in the region.

View video: A Breath of Fresh Air, recording of an air quality event hosted by U.S. Embassy Jakarta (2015)
View press release: U.S. EPA Partners with Indonesia to Improve Public Health in Jakarta (2010)
Learn more about EPA's efforts Promoting Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles Worldwide through the PCFV.

Reducing Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

EPA, Taiwan, and MOEF jointly assess a contaminated site in Indonesia in September 2014.Atmospheric mercury: The Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) participates in mercury monitoring workshops hosted by EPA and EPA Taiwan (EPAT). MoEF has joined the pilot mercury monitoring network which emerged from this effort and plans, with its partners, to establish a new mercury wet deposition monitoring station in the future.
Mercury from mining: In 2011 and 2012, EPA partnered with UNEP and Blacksmith Institute to address mercury emissions and children’s health impacts from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). This project demonstrated improved technologies at the local level, increased education regarding health impacts, and progress towards a national action plan to reduce mercury from ASGM in Indonesia.
Site remediation: In September 2014, EPA and technical experts from Taiwan visited Indonesia to provide on-the-ground recommendations on site remediation to MOE on priority contaminated sites. EPA provides technical expertise to the Working Group on Remediation for Soil and Groundwater Pollution of the Asia-Pacific Region, in which Indonesia participates.

Learn more:

Cleaning Up Electronic Waste

Indonesia participates in the International E-Waste Management Network (IEMN), which enables environmental officials from around the world to directly exchange best practices related to e-waste management.

Through their participation in the network, the Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) has shared its experiences related to e-waste management, learned from officials across the region, and participated in workshops on e-waste management in the U.S. and Taiwan.