AsiaViews, Edition: 43/IV/Nov/2007
Asia's growing oil palm farms seen as climate change threat
A new global report on climate change compiled by a consortium of NGOs
demands that closer attention be paid to the rapid expansion of oil palm
plantations in Asia to prevent the region's already precarious environmental
situation from worsening.
The report, ''Up in Smoke: Asia and the Pacific,'' has revealed that the
rapid expansion of bio-fuel production in the region might accelerate the
exploitation of forest land, thus resulting in severe deforestation, which is
second only to the energy sector in its culpability for carbon emissions, say
scientists.
Indonesia, the third largest global emitter of carbon dioxide after the
United States and China, already has a huge area of oil palm plantations
covering some 60,000 square kilometers, while its government is actively
encouraging further expansion, according to the report, which was launched in
major cities in the region including Bangkok.
This would only increase emissions of carbon dioxide, not help reduce the
gas in the atmosphere, the report said.
Asia has already experienced drastic changes associated with global
warming. Over half of its population, including people in Thailand's coastal
regions, are directly vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Less predictable and more extreme patterns of rainfall are also likely to
emerge, putting small-scale farms in Asia, which account for over 80% of the
world's 400 million farms, at risk, it added.
The report has called for a halt of forest clearance in the region to
contain bio-fuel expansion.
It suggested Asian countries conduct an urgent assessment of the
situation for the sake of food security, and protection of traditional
livelihoods of local populations. It also emphasized greater cuts of greenhouse
gas emissions by developed countries.
The report is a four-year review of international research carried out by
a coalition of over 20 environmental and development advocacy groups, including
Oxfam International, the International Institute for Environment and
Development (IIED), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Dr Saleem Huq, head of Climate Change at the UK-based IIED, has called on
the Asian public to raise the issue of climate change loudly by exerting
pressure on their governments to take urgent action to reverse the situation
before the upcoming Bali meeting, where world leaders will meet to discuss
possible ways to combat global warming together.
''Without this, Asia will continue to suffer, as will communities
worldwide who are contributing the least to climate change but suffer the
most,'' he said.
Anond Snidvongs, director of the regional climate research agency, START,
said it was likely that the region would face the consequences of global
warming projected in the report. Even a slight change in the world's climate
could put certain islands in the region at risk.
Dr Anond said there was no doubt that extreme weather events in Thailand
were influenced by climate change. Asian countries should re-address their
stance on the issue because they are likely to suffer more than others.
Adaptations should be addressed more firmly than before, he said.
''The fundamental thing is that we need to develop our own knowledge and
human resources in this field so that we can negotiate better when we need to
and get what we deserve. More research and studies are needed in the region,''
he said.
Asia-Pacific countries will hold a meeting in Bangkok this week to
address their approaches to addressing climate change before engaging in the
Dec 3-14 Bali meeting.
By Piyaporn Wongruang
Bangkok Post, 19 November 2007
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