Failed to Manage Waste and the Environment, Bali Tourism Ensured to Be in Suspended Animation

Denpasar (Atnews) — An alumnus of Gadjah Mada University (UGM)  and Cornell University, Putu Suasta, asked the Bali Government to be more serious about managing the nature and environment of the Island of the Gods.

Bali dominated by tourism has dependence on the environment, in addition to humans and culture.

It is feared that Bali tourism could be game over or in suspended animation as being abandoned by tourists. Due to fatigue and damage having exceeded the tolerance threshold, the Bali Regional Authority has failed to manage waste.

Almost all landfills in Bali are overloaded, and there is no integrated waste management with massive technological touches whereas meetings and conferences have been held more than a hundred times and spent a lot of budget.

In addition, Bali has experienced systematic and massive traffic jams, damaged roads, serious water crisis, land conversion and high cases of suicide.

In order to commemorate World Environment Day falling on June 5, 2025, the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency of the Republic of Indonesia held a national movement entitled “Joint Assembly and Plastic Waste Clean Action.”

Carrying the global theme “Ending Plastic Pollution,” this activity is an important moment to build collective awareness of the plastic waste emergency that threatens the environment and health.

World Environment Day is an important instrument used by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness about the environment and encourage political attention and action at the world level.

The commemoration day is seen as an opportunity for everyone to be part of the global action in voicing protection for the planet earth, sustainable use of natural resources, and an eco-friendly lifestyle.

So far, various media and celebrities have encouraged the Celebration of World Environment Day by supporting and participating in it.

Goodwill ambassadors from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), including supermodel Gisele Bündchen, sent a warning message to the world to take action on World Environment Day 2014 by joining one of their teams to address climate change.

Their call to action, “Message in a Bottle,” asked everyone around the world to join a team of celebrities and make a difference by pledging to take action in support of World Environment Day, which culminated globally on June 5, 2014.

It included Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, planted a tree at his official residence at Race Course Road 7, Kerala, on the World Environment Day falling on June 5, 2015. 

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, attended the Joint Assembly and Clean Up of Waste event at the celebration of World Environment Day at Baruna Shelter Kuta, Thursday (Jun 5).

Referring to the report of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 2021, there is a production of 400 million tons of plastic every year, of which only 10 percent is recycled.

In the meantime, according to Minister Hanif, the National Waste Management Information System (SIPSN) has reported that of the 34.2 million tons of waste produced in 2024 by 317 districts/cities, 19.74 percent of it is plastic waste.

Actually, only 39.01 percent of national waste is managed properly, while the rest ends up in open dumping landfills.

For this reason, the Bali Regional Government, the Governor of Bali, and the Regents/Mayor are expected to focus and prepare an adequate budget.

Complaints about waste have echoed from all parties, both the Balinese people as well as domestic and foreign tourists. This has also been reminded of the moment of World Water Day.

The World Water Day is commemorated on March 22 every year throughout the world. This commemoration was set to fall on March 22 by the United Nations (UN).

The main focus of the commemoration is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: namely Water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Therefore, the commemoration of World Water Day is an opportunity to conserve water and inspire action to overcome the global water crisis.

Moreover, Bali as a world tourism area, there are still areas with water crises, especially Badung which is glittering with the jingle of dollars.

Even during the rainy season, Badung Municipality Waterworks (PDAM) experiences obstacles. On the other hand, there are some areas with excessive water to the point of flooding.

Suasta also welcomed the talk show—Bali and Water Synergy for the Sustainability of Civilization “One Spring, One Future, One Action to Save Civilization!” at Sari Gumitir Bali, Penebel, Tabanan, Saturday (Mar 22).

The talk show presented resource persons like Writer and Social-Spiritual Activist, Dr. I Wayan Mustika; Cultural Figure, Reader/Researcher of Ancient Palm-leaf Manuscript and Founder of Hanacaraka Institute, Sugi Lanus; Environmental Practitioner, Putu Parta Liong, with Moderator Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, I Nyoman Parta.

Necessarily, the Bali Regional Government is a pioneering leader in realizing a green or blue economy, especially green/blue tourism.

This has become a world trend, especially since Bali once hosted the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) organized on May 18-25, 2024.

The World Water Forum is expected to produce a declaration containing the interests of Indonesia regarding integrated water resources management on small islands.

“It is also the commitment of Indonesian government to bring the results of this forum to the UN as part of the UN Water Agenda,” said Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan when he was the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment and Chairman of the Indonesian National Economic Council.

Previously, Bali had successfully hosted various world leader meetings, both the ASEAN Summit 2023 and the G20 Summit 2020 emphasizing anticipation of climate change and sustainable development.

For this reason, it is important to implement a green and blue economy immediately so that world trust in Bali increases.

WWF 2024 carried the theme “Water for Shared Prosperity,” the largest water sector forum of the world that discusses various global challenges and solutions related to water matter.

Before Bali became the host, WWF had been successfully held in Dakar, Senegal (March 21-26, 2022). Meanwhile, the first time WWF was organized in Marrakesh, Morocco (March 21-23, 1997).

“This event is just held for the first time in Bali, and Indonesia is the first Southeast Asian country to be selected as the host of WWF,” said Suasta, who is also a cultural figure, to Atnews in Denpasar, Wednesday (Apr 24).

The moment of the event was hoped that the government would pay more attention to water resources in Bali and throughout the country.

Such an effort is able to strengthen the position of Indonesia in the field of water resource management, since ancient times it has been known as a maritime country becoming the spice route, and even there is popular song My Ancestors Were Sailors.

Indonesia has reached the peak of maritime glory during the Srivijaya Kingdom. Relationship of Bali with (Odhisa) India related to water is also known as “Bali Jatra.”

Bali Jatra was also revealed by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, when he visited the G20 Summit to the Island of the Gods in front of the Indian diaspora in Indonesia. Prime Minister Modi also stated that the state visit was the first for President Prabowo Subianto to India as Guest of Honor at the celebration of Republic Day of India on January 24-26, 2025.

It also marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and India. The visit was held to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership having been established by the two countries since 2018.

Generally, the Bali Jatra Festival or Journey to Bali is celebrated every year in the month of Kartika, or the end of October or before November.

On that account, Bali Yatra becomes a spirit of togetherness and brotherhood reviving with the establishment of Padmasana Kalingga Bali at the Maritime Museum Cuttuck Odisha. The building cannot be separated from the role of Balinese figures together with the Government of India. Balinese figure Made Mangku Pastika is currently a member of the Regional Representative Council of the RI for the Bali electoral district and Governor of Bali for two terms 2008-2018, and recipient of the Padma Shri Award 2020 Ida Rsi Putra Manuaba (Indra Udayana).

Thus, WWF is the largest international meeting in the water sector that discusses water resource management involving various stakeholders.

Initiated by the World Water Council (WWC), the WWF is held every three years and has been held routinely since 1997.

It is hoped that the government can build relations with various parties in building the revival of the Indonesian maritime.

Specifically, there are three missions of Indonesia to be agreed upon at the meeting in Bali. These points included the Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience, mainstream integrated water management in small islands as well as routine World Lake Days activities.

Among them, there was the opening of the World Water Forum with the Balinese Water Purification Ceremony at Kura-Kura Bali. The event was attended by around 1,500 people with the concept of Rahina Tumpek Uye (Expression of gratitude to animals for the service and benefits extended to humans) and Segara Kerthi (Glorification of the Ocean) Ceremony.

“It contains moral message that we must protect Nature responsibly, never be greedy, and local culture must be maintained with dynamic responsibility,” he concluded. (GAB/001)