PEATLANDS in Southeast Asia 

July has witnessed extreme weather events leading to devastating natural disasters across the globe, from the ravaging of forest fires to the engulfing of floods. Scroll down to learn more on the occurrence of these events, including updates on palm oil and peatland restoration efforts. 

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Review of Regional Haze Situation in ASEAN Region for July 2021

In July 2021, the ASEAN region experienced a Southwest Monsoon condition. There were an increased shower activities and low hotspot count over the northern ASEAN region, which helped subdue hotspot and smoke haze activities.

ASMC shared that the dry season in the ASEAN region is expected to extend from July to October 2021. Isolated to scattered hotspots were observed with smoke haze occurrence detected. However, due to the above-normal rainfall in the southern ASEAN region between July and September 2021, a recurrence of similar El Niño in 2015 or the severe haze event in 2019 (positive IOD year) are unlikely to occur.

Based on surveillance by the NOAA-20, a total of 1,417 hotspots with high confidence level were detected in ASEAN region in July 2021. Regional hotspot count recorded doubled than the previous years in the same review period. Sixty-three percent or 893 of the hotspots were detected in the southern ASEAN region. There are significant or triple increase of hotspots detected in the southern ASEAN region compared to June 2021. La Niña conditions are in neutral condition. 

EXTREME WEATHER CONTINUES
 

At current rates of greenhouse gas emissions, the world is on track to continue warming at current rates to more than 3°C by 2100, according to the UN climate science assessment. We are now witnessing the haze of record heat, wildfires, crippling droughts and floods. These recent extreme weather events and the devastating impacts has shifted a new focus. 

HEATWAVES HAMPERING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE EARTH

 

About 70 wildfires have broken out across 17 provinces in Turkey. In north of the Greek capital, Athens has been swept by the forest fires. Cyprus experienced the worst forest fire in history while fires in California has grown so big that it is generating its own weather system.

REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS

CO2 emissions set to hit record levels in 2023 and there’s ‘no clear peak in sight,’ IEA says

International Energy Agency (IEA) published an analysis notes stating the planet’s carbon dioxide emissions would be on course to hit record levels in 2023 and continue to grow in the ensuing years.

Malaysia Launches Low-Carbon Cities Master Plan

Launched by the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the Master Plan provides complete guidance on how state governments and local authorities can develop low-carbon cities within their areas.

Indonesia optimistic of reaching net zero emissions by 2060 or earlier

The new net zero emissions target was at least a decade earlier than the initial 2070 target. Indonesian Ministers are optimistic in reaching the goal as the government submitted updated nationally determined climate goals to the United Nations.

China steps up climate fight with emissions trading scheme

China launched its long-awaited emissions trading system, a key tool in its quest to drive down climate change-causing greenhouse gases and go carbon neutral by 2060. The scheme will expand to cover cement producers and aluminium makers from next year, said Zhang Xiliang, chief designer of the scheme.

PEATLAND CONSERVATION EFFORTS
 

Series of webinar by the Global Peatlands Initiative’s Research Working Group

The Global Peatlands Initiative Research Working Group is organising a series of online training sessions for peatland researchers. To date, six training sessions have been organised successfully with training materials and recordings available for access. 

GPI's strategy in highlighting peatlands as a priority ecosystem

The Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI) Team has put together a simple, single-page document to highlight peatlands as a priority ecosystem in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It summarizes GPI’s strategy, mission and its collaborating work.

Pact aims to curtail planet-warming emissions from carbon-rich peatlands

A recent virtual meeting of international environment officials and government leaders from four key tropical countries – Peru, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Republic of Congo -  formalised a joint commitment to prioritise sustainable management of peatlands.

Clearer skies for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

The Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) expected Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia are unlikely to be significantly affected by transboundary haze incidents during this year's dry season. Indonesia has been credited for their efforts to tackle the problem including on the establishment of Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM).

Report: Status, Challenges and Aspirations of Wetland Youth

Youth Engaged in Wetlands published a report highlighting the Status, Challenges and Aspirations of Wetland Youth. The report consists of the results from the YEW survey conducted in 2020 and 12 case studies developed for all Ramsar regions based on in-depth interviews with a selection of survey respondents. 

Collaboration between KLHK and International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) 

KLHK-International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) collaboration  on Capacity Building on Forest and Land Fire Management in Indonesia organised a webinar entitled Forest Fires in South East Asia: Policy and Research Development in Indonesia on the 21 July 2021. 
Note: This article is in Bahasa Indonesia

Scaling bankable peatland projects for water security

To be organised on the 26 August 2021, the interactive session aims to highlight sustainable peatland projects that can be used as nature-based solutions for water security. 

UPDATES ON THE PALM OIL INDUSTRY

Palm oil grower looks to make amends for past deforestation in Indonesia

KPN Plantation recently published a document detailing its plan to rehabilitate 38,000 hectares (nearly 94,000 acres) on the islands of Borneo and New Guinea to atone for its past clearing of rainforests and peatlands.

MPOB invents technology to treat palm oil mill effluent

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has invented technology to treat palm oil mill effluent (POME) using oil palm kernel shell biomass and will integrate biological processes. 

Chinese financial institutions should pay more attention to palm oil-related risks

As the world’s largest importer and consumer of soft commodities, China needs to urgently tackle deforestation issues in its supply chains. However, a new report revealed that none of the identified financial institutions in the palm oil sector identified in the report have disclosed the exposure of their portfolio to forest-risk commodities in the reporting year.

Korindo: Korean palm oil giant stripped of sustainability status

A Korean palm oil giant, Korindo has been rejected from the world's leading green certification body Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). BBC had earlier revealed an "evidence beyond reasonable doubt" that Korindo's palm oil operation destroyed 30,000 hectares of high conservation forest in the remote Indonesian province of Papua.

Hotspot Hub — RSPO strengthens fire prevention with satellite technology

The Hotspot Hub was developed in response to the pervading problem of forest fires, which continue to be one of the toughest challenges facing the palm oil industry and are predominantly caused by illegal “slash-and-burn” forest clearing practices.