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Peat Fires: Consumers key in saving South East Asian Peatlands

Posted on by conservationlinks

Image credit: ascione from Getty Images Signature

NOTE: Extended discussion of the online article – Nature 527, 305 (19 November 2015).

Every few years El-Niño and land-use conversion-related peatland fires blanket Southeast Asian population centres with smoke (called haze). The result is globally significant carbon emissions, species extinctions, adverse health impacts and billion dollar losses1–3. While regional governments argue over the root causes and optimal responses to haze2, and the recent Transboundary Haze Pollution Act passed by Singapore has tried to penalize errant companies, it is direct consumer pressure brought about by the prolonged recent haze event that has finally brought errant companies, NGOs and governments to the table in search of a long-term solution.

Several months of unhealthy air quality caused by haze has spurred the Singapore Environment Council (a local NGO) to suspend the use of its environmental certification – the Green Label – by paper-pulp companies with land-use concessions linked to haze-causing fires3. Consequently, suppliers such as supermarket chains have taken action to the loss of the Green Label by discontinuing sales of products containing raw materials from these companies. While banks are reviewing their lending policies to these companies. The negative fallout has brought companies to the negotiating table willing to discuss what they could do to become more sustainable.

However, plans by the Malaysian and Indonesian governments to establish a Council of Oil Palm Producer Countries may undermine efforts to establish better practices and will likely see palm oil companies renege on pledges to stop deforestation4. This is particularly worrying as unlike the paper industry, most of the regions oil palm is consumed by China and India where concern for deforestation and emissions elsewhere is a low priority.

While the haze has galvanised NGOs, banks and businesses to act, it is critical time for consumer groups to follow their example and demand better environmental accountability from companies5.

It is time for Indian and Chinese consumers to wake up. Their choices will decide the fate of Southeast Asian biodiversity. The only way is through education.

Lahiru S. Wijedasa1,2,3 (Email: [email protected])

1Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543.

2Conservation Links, 433 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-258, Singapore 120433.

3Rimba, 4 Jalan 1/9D, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

REFERENCES

  1. Posa, M. R. C., Wijedasa, L. S. & Corlett, R. T. Biodiversity and Conservation of Tropical Peat Swamp Forests. Bioscience 61, 49–57 (2011).
  2. Lee, J. H. S. et al. Environmental Science & Policy Toward clearer skies : Challenges in regulating transboundary haze in Southeast Asia. Environ. Sci. Policy 55, 87–95 (2016).
  3. Lim, J. NTUC FairPrice , Sheng Siong , Prime Supermarket remove all Asia Pulp & Paper Group products from stores. The Straits Times (2015). at <http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/ntuc-fairprice-removes-all-asia-pulp-paper-group-products-from-its-stores&gt;
  4. New palm oil council to row back on ‘green’ pledges. The Straits Times (2015). at <http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/new-palm-oil-council-to-row-back-on-green-pledges&gt
  5. Wijedasa, L.S., Posa, M.R.C. & Clements, G.R.C.. Peat Fires: Consumers to help beat them out. Nature 527: 305 (2015).