The coast of Demak district, the site of the first Islamic sultanate on the island of Java, has been inundated by the sea over decades owing to groundwater extraction and development.
Indonesia is promoting 'reuse' as a key solution to its plastic waste crisis, with civil society and the Ministry of Environment launching a 'reuse road map' to mainstream practices like refilling and returning containers.
As regional donors are urged to give more, many say it is not just about plugging immediate gaps from the sudden pullout, but buying time for aid-reliant projects to diversify funding models, which have been "overdue for an overhaul".