Green Indonesia
Bali Goes Green: Digital Campaigns to Save the Earth in 2024 Local Election
KPU Bali asks candidates to utilize digital platforms and avoid plastic campaign materials
Minggu, 22 September 2024
KPU Bali tree-planting activities during election (dok.Antara)
Denpasar. In an unprecedented move to combat climate change and mitigate extreme weather, the Bali Election Commission (KPU Bali) is championing a "Green Election" for the 2024 local elections.
The initiative aims to curb the environmental impact of political campaigns, particularly the rampant use of plastic materials, which contribute significantly to pollution and waste in the region.
KPU Bali plans to minimize the use of traditional campaign materials such as banners and posters, which are typically made from plastic. Instead, candidates will be encouraged to utilize digital platforms including social media, videotrons, and billboards.
This move is reinforced by Bali's 2018 Gubernatorial Regulation No. 97, which addresses the restriction of single-use plastic waste. Violations of this green campaign agreement will result in sanctions, with monthly public disclosures of offenders.
In a bid to offset the environmental footprint of elections, KPU Bali has already initiated tree-planting activities and plans to plant 250,000 trees during the inauguration of election committees, aiming to transform the usage of election materials from paper ballots.
The 2024 local elections are scheduled to take place from September 25 to November 23, with the national polling day set for November 27, across 37 provinces and 508 districts/municipalities in Indonesia.
KPU Bali's chairman, I Dewa Agung Gede Lidartawan, underscored the urgency of adopting digital campaigning methods given the rising environmental concerns. "It's time we shift to digital platforms. During the last presidential and legislative elections, full facilitation wasn't possible. Now, we have the means, and social media is widely accessible," Lidartawan stated.
The green election initiative not only addresses the overproduction of plastic waste, which remains unresolved since the previous elections, but also aligns with the broader goal of sustainable development in responding to the mounting threats of climate change and extreme weather events in Indonesia.
Wartawan : Deba Melisa Depari
Penulis : Akshara Abraham
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