Indonesia's Environment Ministry is framing the country's waste crisis as a climate justice issue. The minister stated that 74 percent of the 51 million tons of annual waste is not managed properly, with most going to open dumping landfills that release methane. Methane has roughly 30 times the warming effect of CO2, and the government says this directly threatens coastal communities where 60 percent of the population lives. The ministry is finalizing a climate justice bill that will also regulate carbon trading. The government wants to ensure carbon credits from forests, mangroves, and other ecosystems deliver benefits to local communities rather than being dominated by financial speculators. The bill may become a standalone law or be added to the existing environmental protection law.
