Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand Formulate Joint Action to Tackle Environmental Crisis
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand are strengthening environmental cooperation to address various cross-border challenges in the region. The collaboration encompasses waste management, ecosystem protection, and the development of green technology.
The enhanced cooperation was a key agenda item at the 6th Meeting of the Working Group on Environment of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), held in Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday (18/6/2026).
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment/Principal Secretary of the Environmental Control Agency (BPLH) Rosa Vivien Ratnawati stated that environmental and climate change issues require cross-border cooperation.
"The IMT-GT has become an important platform for strengthening regional cooperation, not only in economic development but also in environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Environmental challenges now transcend national borders, necessitating stronger coordination and collective action," Vivien said.
At the forum, Indonesia brought three priority agendas. First, strengthening synergy between regional cooperation and ASEAN and global environmental targets. Second, encouraging the implementation of concrete projects in the fields of waste management, nature conservation, and marine protection. Third, expanding collaboration with local governments, the private sector, academics, and the younger generation.
Expert Advisor to the Minister for Food Resources, Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Quality at KLH/BPLH, Laksmi Widyajayanti, expressed hope that the agreed work agenda would be translated into programmes that can be implemented on the ground.
The meeting also served as a platform for sharing environmental innovations from each country. Thailand introduced a training plan for handling oil spills at sea, while Malaysia presented the concept of a battery passport to support electric vehicle battery recycling.
Indonesia showcased the integrated waste management facility owned by PT Sumatera Deli Lestari Indah as an example of implementing more environmentally friendly industrial practices.
Chair of the IMT-GT Working Group on Environment from Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, P Jeevananth A/L Paliah, said the forum is expected to produce steps that can be followed up by all member countries.
"We hope this meeting yields concrete input that can be acted upon by each member country," he said.
KLH/BPLH, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN Secretariat, is committed to advancing the meeting’s outcomes into environmental projects that provide direct benefits to communities in the region.