Semarang — Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has institutional policies addressing the prevention and reduction of marine pollution, particularly pollution originating from land-based activities. Its framework combines environmental protection requirements, ecosystem conservation, and restrictions on single-use plastics to address waste at its source and prevent disposal into aquatic environments.
Institutional Policy on Pollution Prevention
Circular Letter No. B/28527/UN37/RT.03.03.00/2024 on the Protection and Prevention of Pollution in Water and Land Environments establishes the university’s principal guidance on pollution prevention.
The circular calls for workplace cleanliness, responsible waste disposal, reduced plastic packaging, and the prevention of waste disposal into freshwater, marine, and brackish-water environments. It also embeds environmental responsibility within education, research, and community service, extending its relevance across university activities.
These provisions explicitly connect activities on land with the protection of aquatic environments. By addressing waste handling and disposal practices, the policy establishes institutional expectations intended to prevent campus-generated waste from becoming a source of water pollution.
Conservation and Restoration of Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems
Complementing the pollution-prevention circular, Circular Letter No. B/28478/UN37/PA.00.00/2024 addresses the conservation and restoration of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
The directive provides an institutional basis for environmental protection and the prevention of activities that contribute to ecosystem damage and marine pollution. Together, the two circulars connect responsible environmental behavior with the protection of habitats affected by waste generated on land.
Reducing Plastic Waste at Its Source
UNNES reinforces this framework through Rector’s Regulation No. 125 of 2024 on the Prohibition of Single-Use Plastics, established on 31 October 2024. The regulation replaced Rector’s Regulation No. 21 of 2019, providing the updated institutional reference for the 2025 reporting period.
The university’s published implementation approach includes reusable alternatives, environmental awareness campaigns, waste segregation, recycling, and student conservation activities. These measures support pollution prevention by addressing disposable materials before they enter the waste stream.
Connecting Campus Governance with Aquatic Protection
These institutional instruments demonstrate that UNNES has a policy framework for preventing marine pollution, with explicit attention to waste disposal and land-based sources. They combine broad environmental protection with ecosystem conservation and targeted plastic restrictions.
The documents establish policy commitments and requirements. Measured reductions in pollution, improvements in water quality, and ecological recovery remain distinct outcomes that are not quantified by the policy documents themselves.