Adding firepower to the fight for our forests
Adding firepower to the fight for our forests
05 June 2010
published by www.todayonline.com
Singapore — The deal between Norway and Indonesia to save Indonesian forests is a game-changer in more ways than one.
For Indonesia, it means a greener future and lower carbon emissions. Much less noticed is that it means cleaner air and sharply reduced costs here in Singapore.
The ground-breaking agreement between Indonesia and Norway, signed at a ceremony in Oslo on May 26, is designed to stop the conversion of Indonesian forests and peat lands into plantations.
Norway said it will give Indonesia up to US$1 billion ($1.4 billion) for emissions reductions resulting from forest preservation. Indonesia said it is “prepared to suspend for two years new concessions for the conversion of peat and natural forest lands” starting as early as January next year.
Mr Agus Purnomo, secretariat head at Indonesia’s National Climate Change Council, said afterward that Indonesia is likely to cancel some existing concessions as well.
“Donors have been supporting improved forest management in Indonesia for decades,” according to Mr Lou Verchot, a scientist with the Centre for International Forestry Research (Cifor).
“But never before has a prospective contribution been this significant in terms of both size and ambition, and never before so clearly tied to performance.”
The agreement leverages the United Nations’ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (Redd) programme, which was launched in September 2008, to assist developing countries implement plans to save their forests.
So far, Redd has provided about US$42 million for pilots in eight countries around the world. This new programme gives a massive jump-start to Redd initiatives. Currently ranked as the third worst emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, Indonesia has an opportunity to become a role model for emissions reduction instead.
Some organisations do see the agreement as not going far enough. Redd-Monitor, for example, laments that the agreement only starts forest preservation next year, contains “nothing whatsoever in the Letter of Intent about the rights of indigenous peoples”, only applies to new development concessions, and contains no commitment to continue the suspension beyond two years.
All may be valid concerns. Since so little has actually happened for so long despite ongoing negotiations, though, implementing this solution seems far better than waiting for something absolutely perfect.
HOW IT BENEFITS SINGAPORE
Beyond Norway’s large financial contribution, reductions in the costs of the pollution from the burning can bring enormous additional economic benefits. Researchers David Glover and Timothy Jessup estimated the region-wide costs of the severe haze in 1997 at US$4.5 billion, for example.
Even in 2006, when the haze was not as severe, Professor Euston Quah of the Nanyang Technological University estimated the costs to be at least $50 million in Singapore alone. Reduced emissions can mean substantial savings in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and beyond.
Even without being a party to the agreement, Singapore stands to benefit in more ways than one.
Once the burning stops, the skies here that have so often been spoiled by pollution from burning forests should be far clearer. Singaporeans and tourists alike can look forward to cleaner air and better health.
And as air pollution continues to become a more important factor when people choose where to live, Singapore can become an even more competitive destination for top talent.
Clearer skies will also bring major economic savings. The annual loss of tens of millions of dollars from higher health costs, fewer tourists, lower corporate productivity and other expenses resulting from the haze would drop tremendously. Long-term health benefits from less pollution, though hard to calculate, will likely be substantial too.
There are still some uncertainties about the deal. This year is the preparation phase, when the strategy will be developed. The transformation phase that’s targeted to stop the burning only begins next year, and is dependent on the preparations this year.
With all the advantages the agreement brings, and with some of the timing potentially uncertain, the surrounding countries would benefit from doing everything they can to support implementation.
While change is obviously most dependent on work by Indonesia and Norway, anything Singapore can do to assist – whether it’s technical expertise, assistance with monitoring or other assistance – could have major benefits for all the parties.
The net results of the agreement and forest preservation are manifold, as we can look forward to reduced emissions, clearer skies and even financial benefits. Faster implementation is to the benefit of all.
