UK’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West launched two ocean-based initiatives during a recent visit to Indonesia focused on sustainable infrastructure.
The initiatives include the Blue Planet Fund Indonesia Country Plan, with the twin aims of protecting coastal environments and reducing poverty; and the Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition (COAST) Programme Indonesia, part of the wider Blue Planet Fund, which will provide technical support and project funding worth £18 million (USD$22 million) to protect ocean habitats and resources including promoting sustainable fishing.
Launched in 2021, the Blue Planet Fund is the UK government’s main vehicle to help developing countries protect their marine ecosystems and reduce poverty through the sustainable management of the ocean and its resources through official development assistance (ODA). It is part of the government’s broader commitment to provide international climate finance (ICF) to support developing countries’ efforts to address climate change.
The new partnership is an example of the UK and Indonesia’s ambition to deepen mutually beneficial collaboration under a new Strategic Partnership, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Prabowo Subianto have agreed to sign in 2025. This will include a formal agreement focused on secure and sustainable economic growth, designed to deliver the UK government’s Plan for Change as well as the Indonesian government’s target of 8% annual growth.
“The UK and Indonesia are proving that strong economic growth does not need to come with higher emissions,” West said ahead of the visit. “Investing in green infrastructure and the energy transition is not just vital for our planet – it will make sure our economies are fit for the future.”
