Indonesia, the Environment & Health: Sugar Tax, Plastic Tax & Carbon Tax?

#Indonesia #sugartax #plastictax #carbontax? "Indonesia plans to impose excise duty on plastic bags, sugary drinks and vehicle emissions with the new levies expected to net the government about $1.7 billion in additional revenue annually." There are likely fewer to challenge sugar and plastic duty/taxes, but a move on vehicle emissions could become challenging for diesel usage, which has become a rising policy for the #palmoil sector.

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Photo credit: Antara/Sigid Kurniawan.

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. Photo credit: Antara/Sigid Kurniawan.

#KhorReports contacts in Jakarta finance see a high possibility of implementation, with a senior economic advisor also explaining that “it could happen, considering the big short fall in [fiscal] revenue.” But naysayers see it as “desperate, with a 0% chance of implementation. It’s a last gasp for Sri Mulyani, who has to go.”

Khor Reports coverage of the sugar in popular local drinks, sweetened beverages, bubble tea and juices is here: Boba Boom: The Rise of Boba and the Sugar Strikes Back. The issue of waste plastic (especially on Malaysia) is covered here: Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Waste Plastic Imports to Malaysia.