APEC Sustainable Coastal Cities Symposium 2021 with the big theme of “Clean Seas, Future Cities” was held on 24-26 November 2021. This event organized by UCSI University Malaysia collaborates with the School of Strategic and Global Studies (SSGS) Universitas Indonesia and Akademi Sains Malaysia.

The Symposium aids in the tabling of effective policies that would resolve sustainability challenges of coastal cities, promoting the IR 4.0 digital supply chain management of plastics, and address transboundary issues.

The event opened with the Opening Ceremony of the APEC Sustainable Coastal Cities by the APEC Coastal Cities Project Overseer, UCSI University Malaysia, Associate Professor Eric Chan, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur Campus, Prof. Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Siti Hamisah Binti Tapsir, and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Adham Bin Baba.

Dr. Lin Yola as the Symposium’s Advisory Board member deliver her speech on ‘The Marine Pollution, Social, and Environmental Challenges of the Indonesian Coastal Community Perspective’ in the Symposium Session of ‘The Role of Non-Governmental and Community Engagement in Addressing Marine Debris’.

She pinpointed that the marine pollution and coastal communities are inseparable causally interrelated subjects in impacting the Indonesian coastal area’s social and ecological issues. Tough living with nature is an integral part of the history of coastal livelihood; the local communities are forced to adapt to the development of marine pollution issues. Nevertheless, the informal fishermen villages were also seen participating in developing the marine pollution self.

The APEC Symposium 2021 was officially closed with the officiating the ‘Sustainable Coastal Cities Research Consortium’ as the follow up of the Symposium’s white paper and further related studies.