Badung, May 20, 2024 - "Not throwing garbage into rivers is a simple step people can take to realize water sustainability," said World Clean Up Day Indonesia national leader Andy Bahari during the Water Talks session titled "Rivers of Life", in the framework of the 10th World Water Forum, at Baruna Disaster Shelter, Kuta, Bali on May 21, 2024.

Andy, who has been leading Clean Up civic actions in Indonesia since 2018, said that waste and water are both connected: Waste that accumulates in water leads to water pollution, which causes disease and ultimately affects people's quality of life.

As a young volunteer working directly to save the environment, Andy called on young people in Indonesia to take action to keep the rivers and the ecosystem around them clean.

"Indonesia is a country where 21 million people volunteer, out of a total of 91 million volunteers worldwide. The high number of Indonesian volunteers is the country’s greatest achievement, but the real happiness for all volunteers is the cleanliness of the river itself," he said.

Based on the data from the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) from 2022, the input of data from 202 districts across Indonesia revealed that the amount of waste dumped nationwide is 21.1 million tons. For this reason, close collaboration between the government, the private sector, the public and community organizations, especially volunteers, is needed to achieve the goals of waste reduction and prevention in Indonesia.

As part of the 10th World Water Forum Water Vaganza which will take place in Nusa Dua Bali from 20 to 25 May 2024, a series of “Water Talks" has been organized to spread knowledge and raise awareness of the importance of water. The Water Vaganza also features exhibitions in the fields of handicrafts, fashion, beauty and culinary arts.

The 10th World Water Forum takes place from May 18 to 25, 2024 in Nusa Dua, Bali, under the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity" and six sub-themes, including Water Security and Prosperity, Water for Humans and Nature, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-Diplomacy, Sustainable Water Financing and Knowledge and Innovation. (Ridho Syukra/Firda Puri)