According to Law no. 23 of 1997, the environment is a unitary space with all objects, forces, conditions, and living things, including humans and their behaviour, which affect the continuity of life and the welfare of humans and other living creatures. Meanwhile, the scope of the Indonesian environment includes the space where the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia has an archipelago perspective in exercising its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction. In the living environment, there is an ecosystem, namely the arrangement of environmental elements which are a comprehensive whole and influence each other in forming environmental balance, stability, and productivity.
The Environmental Problems in Indonesia
- Natural hazards: floods, droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires, mud volcanoes, landslides, industrial waste, tourism waste, and hospital waste.
- Environmental problems in Indonesia today: illegal logging/forest logging; water pollution from industrial and mining waste; air pollution in urban areas (Jakarta is the city with the 3rd dirtiest air in the world); smoke and haze from forest fires; permanent forest fires/cannot be extinguished; encroachment on nature reserves/wildlife reserves; poaching, trade and eradication of protected wild animals; destruction of coral reefs; disposal of B3/radioactive waste from developed countries; waste disposal without separation/processing; wild mudflow in Sidoarjo, East Java; Acid rain is a result of air pollution.
The Efforts to Overcome Environmental Problems
- Applying the use of environmentally friendly technology in the management of natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable by taking into account their carrying capacity and capacity.
- To avoid environmental pollution and damage to natural resources, it is necessary to enforce the law fairly and consistently.
- Gradually assign authority and responsibility for the management of natural resources and the environment.
