Why Indonesia Is One of the Worst Climate Change Offenders in the World

Summary

Southeast Asia faces an annual haze crisis due to Indonesia's illegal slash-and-burn practices for agricultural land, particularly for palm oil plantations. This contributes significantly to global warming, with deforestation releasing as much greenhouse gas as all transportation combined. Despite a global slowdown in deforestation rates, Indonesia has become a top offender, and environmentalists argue for stronger regulations and international financial support to combat this issue, which could take a decade to resolve.

Takeaways

• 🌫️ The 'haze' is a thick blanket of smoke that affects Southeast Asia annually during the dry season from June to October.
• 🔥 Indonesia is responsible for setting massive forest fires to clear land for agriculture, particularly for palm oil plantations.
• 🌳 Deforestation in Indonesia creates a significant amount of greenhouse gases, comparable to the emissions from global transportation.
• 🌍 Indonesia has become one of the world's major contributors to global warming due to these fires.
• 💲 The slash-and-burn technique is used because it is 20 times cheaper than other land-clearing methods.
• 🌾 Indonesia produces about half of the world's 50 billion palm oil crop each year, which is widely used in various consumer products.
• 📉 Globally, the rate of deforestation has slowed by a third, with a reduction to about 5.2 million hectares per year.
• 📊 Brazil's Amazon has shown significant improvement in forest preservation, with Indonesia overtaking Brazil in forest loss in 2011.
• 🏛️ Environmental groups argue that Indonesia should strengthen its moratorium on permits to slow deforestation, similar to other countries.
• 💼 Indonesia claims it needs financial assistance and that identifying those responsible for the fires is a time-consuming process.
• 🕒 Researchers estimate it could take up to a decade to stop the burning practices that cause the haze.

Q & A

What is referred to as the haze in Southeast Asia?

The haze in Southeast Asia is a thick blanket of smoke caused by massive forest fires set intentionally to clear land for agriculture, particularly during the dry season from June to October.

Why are forest fires set in Indonesia during the dry season?

Forest fires are set in Indonesia to clear land for agriculture, specifically for palm oil plantations, using a method known as slash and burn, which is 20 times cheaper than other methods.

How do these fires impact neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia?

The fires result in a haze that periodically envelops these countries, causing environmental and health issues due to the smoke and air pollution.

What is the connection between deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions?

Deforestation, particularly from these fires, creates a significant amount of greenhouse gases each year, comparable to the emissions from cars, airplanes, and other forms of transport combined.

Why has Indonesia become one of the world's worst global warming offenders?

Indonesia has become a major global warming offender due to its extensive use of illegal slash and burn techniques for clearing land, which releases large amounts of greenhouse gases.

What is the role of palm oil in Indonesia's deforestation?

Indonesia produces about half of the world's 50 billion palm oil crop each year, which is widely used in various products. The demand for palm oil drives the need for land, leading to deforestation.

How has the global rate of deforestation changed recently?

Globally, the rate of deforestation per year has slowed by a third to about 5.2 million hectares, indicating an improvement in forest conservation efforts.

What is the current situation with deforestation in Brazil's Amazon?

There has been significant improvement in Brazil's Amazon, with a reduction in deforestation rates, which can be attributed to strengthened conservation efforts.

When did Indonesia overtake Brazil in forest loss?

Indonesia overtook Brazil as the number one country for forest loss in 2011.

What do environmental groups suggest Indonesia should do to slow deforestation?

Environmental groups suggest that Indonesia should strengthen its moratorium on permits and follow the lead of other countries that have successfully slowed deforestation.

What does Indonesia argue is needed to address the issue of deforestation?

Indonesia argues that it needs financial help and that identifying those responsible for the illegal burning takes time.

How long could it take to stop the burning that causes the haze?

Researchers estimate it could take up to a decade to stop the burning that causes the haze, indicating the complexity and scale of the issue.