PEATLANDS in Southeast Asia 

November witnessed COP26 summit brought parties together to accelerate action on climate mitigation. But was it a success? Scroll down for November articles on COP26 outcomes, climate change, peatland management and palm oil updates.  

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Review of Regional Haze Situation in ASEAN Region for November 2021

Inter-monsoon conditions prevailed over the ASEAN region in November before Northeast Monsoon conditions develop in December. Increase of rainfall observed in equatorial area with heavy rainfall was observed over Viet Nam and Cambodia. Meanwhile, drier conditions occurred elsewhere in the Mekong sub-region. 

In November 2021, there were no significant hotspot and haze activity observed in the ASEAN region. La Niña conditions is in present with most models are predicting La Niña conditions until March or April 2022. The dry season over the southern ASEAN region had ended while in the northern ASEAN region, the traditional dry season is progressing to sets in. 

THE OUTCOMES OF COP26 

Momentum gained at COP26 must ensure the future of wetlands

While climate talks happened, wetlands are quietly being lost. Jane Madgwick, CEO of Wetlands International said, “What we need is whole system, whole landscape approaches.”

COP26 saw 197 parties reached agreements as well as pledges made by governments to commit to climate mitigation. More than 140 countries committed to end deforestation by 2030. More than 40 countries agreed to phase out use of coal power while 23 countries are committing for the first time to stop constructing and issuing permits for new coal plants. 

More details in articles below:

COP26 has been called out by many on different reasons; lack of more meaningful measures to cut greenhouse-gas emissions; women’s voices are missing; and lack of climate finance for poor countries to help them on curbing measures and cope with climate impacts. 

More details in articles below:

UNFCCC COP26 Peatland Pavilion side event

The Peatland Pavilion at the UNFCCC COP26 provides a platform to exchange knowledge and experience of successful actions on peatland policy, practice, research and innovation. Delegates and representatives from around the world has shared their experiences. In addition to the guests physically present at the Peatland Pavilion, over 100 individuals from 88 countries registered as online participants.

ASEAN Peatland Partner Side Event

The ASEAN Secretariat, supported by the Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA) Programme and other ASEAN Peatland Partners, organised a two-day series of side events at the Peatland Pavilion, UNFCCC COP26, in Glasgow.

The side events were held on 2nd and 3rd November 2021 and aims to raise awareness on the importance of tropical peatland restoration and management. More info in articles below:

FIXING CLIMATE CHANGE

Too little done to fix climate change, say experts

Environmentalists noted that climate change has already manifested on a daily basis. Global Environment Centre director Faizal Parish pointed out that unless more is done quickly, not just at the local level but also at the global level, it would be disastrous.

Mongabay released the first video of its brand new series, "Problem Solved." The video breaks down how soil works and how soil is central to solving the climate change crisis.

Ideally, governments should reduce emissions with carbon taxes and (implement) efficient regulations. But most governments are reluctant to regulate or tax all emitters, such as power plants, electric companies, or forest managers.

Businesses are urged to consider new ways of designing, producing and consuming goods to meet climate change goals. This concept will enable many of the solutions for the climate but also for the other interlinked crises of biodiversity loss and over-extraction of natural resources.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF PEATLANDS

Managing peatlands in Indonesia’s South Sumatra for multiple benefits

Himlal Baral, senior scientist with The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) said that the South Sumatra province in Indonesia is the classic case of sustainable land-use practices, whereby how peatlands are being managed, will have either positive or negative impacts on carbon storage, climate and livelihoods.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) UK Peatland Programme has published a report entitled 'Peat-free Horticulture – Demonstrating Success'. It was launched as part of the COP26 Peatland Pavilion in November 2021 and highlights successes in peat-free horticulture.

Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Ministry and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have been working together to advance the haze-free and sustainable peatland management agenda for over a decade.

Dr Bradley Hiller, Consultant, Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines and Dr Shailendra Mishra, Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore are seeking academics and practitioners from developing and emerging countries for contributions to a special issue of academic journal entitled "Tropical Peatland Conservation and Restoration: Sustainable and Climate-Smart Technology, Finance and Management Models".

Submissions are open until April 2022.

For contributions, contact: 
Dr Bradley Hiller (bradley.hiller@cantab.net) 
Dr Shailendra Mishra (shailmishra@ntu.edu.sg)

UPDATES ON THE PALM OIL INDUSTRY

Palm oil linked to increased cancer risk, study finds

The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Barcelona discovered that fatty acid found palm oil, which is commonly found in spreads such as margarine and Nutella, can affect the cancer genome, increasing the likelihood of the disease spreading in human bodies. 

Indonesia is training farmers and teachers and running social media campaigns to highlight the positive aspects of the palm oil industry which employs more than 15 million Indonesians and generates around 13 per cent of the country's exports.

With export opening up the markets, Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) expects crude palm oil (CPO) prices to trend downwards and may also lead to a fall of share prices.

“As demand for palm oil increases, so will the pressure on land managers to improve production at all costs. These production increases are likely to come from the spiralling use of emissions-intensive fertiliser, which can have negative effects on water quality and catastrophic consequences for local communities and wildlife,” said Eleanor Spencer, ZSL’s sustainable business specialist for Asia.