Indonesians are increasingly aware of the need to develop in a more sustainable manner. In October 2022, the Jakarta High Court rejected the government's appeal of a citizen lawsuit that found President Joko Widodo negligent in failing to tackle Jakarta's notorious air pollution. Report after report indicates the rapidly growing problem of plastic waste, including marine plastic debris. Whilst the puzzle of how to build a sustainable future has many pieces, one crucial element is often overlooked: intellectual property (IP) rights.
Transformative and collaborative inventions to drive sustainability in carbon-intensive sectors need to be prioritised. Whilst technology can hasten the transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy, sharing of technology and knowledge, combined with adequate funding, is needed. IP rights can help.
