Best of our wild blogs: 25 Sep 15

Shell told to stop work following Aug 2015 fire at Pulau Bukom
wild shores of singapore

UN study warns agricultural subsidies are threatening forests and conservation programs
Mongabay Environmental News

Read more!

Singapore's anti-haze law needs more bite, say experts

Audrey Tan, Samantha Boh Straits Times 25 Sep 15; and AsiaOne

The seriousness of out-of-control burning activities in Indonesia continues to be felt in the region despite efforts to put out fires.

Experts say more must be done to punish offenders, or the haze problem will not go away.

Among their suggestions are harsher fines, rewards for informants, more policing and closer cooperation among the authorities.

Some also suggest a procurement policy that ensures goods and services are obtained from sustainable and responsible sources.

Singapore Management University (SMU) law don Eugene Tan said: "The law should require the Government to take the lead and adopt (such a procurement policy).

"This can help (ensure) its investments and business partners are not engaging in conduct that is detrimental to the health of Singaporeans and our economy."

He was referring to Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which was passed in Parliament last year to punish those responsible for causing or condoning fires if burning results in unhealthy levels of haze in Singapore.

"It would be the height of irony if the haze was caused, directly and indirectly, by companies with a strong Singaporean connection, whether in terms of ownership or investments by Singapore entities," said Associate Professor Tan.

A Singapore-listed firm is under investigation for causing forest fires in Indonesia, an Indonesian official said on Tuesday.

Singapore's Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources is also investigating two recent breaches of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

Those found guilty under the Act can be fined up to $100,000 a day, capped at a total of $2 million, for causing unhealthy haze, defined as a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index value of 101 or greater for 24 hours or more.

But Professor Ng Yew-Kwang, an economist from Nanyang Technological University, said the fines were too low and suggested that they be increased by at least a hundred times. "Some may think that $100,000 a day is a big penalty. However, since the haze affects all people in Singapore, that sum is less than two cents a day per person," he pointed out. "This is certainly far less than 1 per cent of any reasonable estimate of the costs of haze at any unhealthy level."

National University of Singapore economist Ivan Png said the law could include a whistle-blower provision to reward those with information leading to convictions. "Whistle-blowers have been instrumental in exposing white-collar and environmental crime in the United States and Europe. We can apply the same concept to combat the haze.

"We might then even get the help of local government officials and plantation workers in Sumatra. The prospect of a whistle-blower reward worth perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars would certainly focus their minds," said Professor Png, who suggested a reward 12 times the informant's annual income.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for non-governmental environmental organisation World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore said the biggest difficulty with the new law was verifying who started the fires, which depends on Jakarta's capacity to monitor the ground. She added: "It will also depend on the Act's ability to target smaller companies suspected of causing fires, (and) to follow the supply chain to the giant corporations they supply."

Dr Nigel Sizer, global director of the forests programme at US-based think-tank World Resources Institute, and SMU law professor Mahdev Mohan called for greater dialogue between governments, firms and environmental groups which "may have an accurate lay of the land", as a way of solving the haze issue made complicated by Indonesia's complex, often overlapping land ownership and usage rights.

The experts agree that while the law may be a step in the right direction, it does not yet have any bite. As SMU's Prof Tan put it: "It's small comfort to most Singaporeans... plagued by the scourge of the haze and for which the law strikes them as being a paper tiger."

Authorities identify companies likely responsible for forest fires
Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — The Government has already identified some companies which could be responsible for some of the fires that have resulted in the haze, and the National Environment Agency has written to the Indonesian authorities asking for a list of companies that Indonesian investigations have shown may be implicated.

Revealing this at a media briefing yesterday, Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the Government could be issuing notices to these companies in the days to come, pursuant to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. More details will be revealed today, he said, adding that investigations are in progress.

Last year, Singapore passed the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which states that haze pollution has occurred if the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) — for the same or any part of Singapore — remains above 100 for at least 24 hours. It further stipulates that it is an offence for any entity to cause or contribute to haze pollution here. This has happened at least twice in recent weeks. Asked whether the Government was investigating further breaches, Dr Balakrishnan said the Government was still collecting evidence.

The haze has worsened dramatically since Wednesday, due to a tropical storm in the West Pacific Ocean near the Philippines, resulting in the winds shifting to blow from the south and south-west, bringing with it dense haze from Sumatra. Hourly PM2.5 concentrations have fluctuated widely, but have been on an upward trend overall.

Dr Balakrishnan said what was of concern was a dense “haze cloud” south of Singapore that is creeping closer to the island. “That’s why you are getting this volatile but progressively worsening haze (yesterday).”

With the region experiencing El Nino year, the dry conditions will last till November. But wind directions are very changeable and can be affected by incidents like typhoons, and it is difficult to give a forecast of what to expect over the next few weeks, said Dr Balakrishnan.

“Obviously we also hope the Indonesian authorities’ efforts on the ground, and I am very encouraged that the President of Indonesia is on the ground himself ... (we hope) that his efforts, his determination, will be translated into actual action on the ground to put out those fires. Our offer of assistance is still on the table and we still stand ready to work with ASEAN partners to resolve this problem,” he said.

‘Errant companies to face the music’
KOI KYE LEE New Straits Times 24 Sep 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: INDONESIA, having bore the brunt of criticism over the haze enveloping its neighbours Malaysia and Singapore, is set to lay down the law on those responsible for the annual phenomenon.

The republic is expected to haul up more than 200 plantation and forestry companies to court next month over the roles they played in causing the smog via illegal land clearing methods, which included slashing and burning.

Speaking to the New Straits Times yesterday, Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno said Indonesia’s ongoing investigation into errant companies linked to the haze would most likely be completed in October.

The likelihood of these companies being charged in court and paying a heavy penalty, he said, was high.

“We are taking this seriously. Those who have broken the law will face stern action as time and again, we have reminded them to refrain from slashing and burning. Even the number (of companies investigated) may increase.”

Prayitno said more companies may face suspension and criminal proceedings. However, he said, Indonesia was not at liberty to disclose their identities.

On how many more companies out of the 200 investigated would face a similar fate as the four firms that were suspended on Tuesday over illegal land-clearing practices, he said “investigations are still ongoing”.

On Tuesday, it was reported that four companies had their operations suspended for allegedly contributing to the haze.

Three oil palm plantation companies had their permits frozen while one forestry company had its licence revoked.
All the companies were Indonesian-owned while a Singapore-owned company was also under probe.

Prayitno said one Malaysian company was among more than 200 companies being probed. However, he could not divulge further information.

Among the penalties include suspension of operations, revocation of land permits and jail time.

On whether Indonesia would seek cooperation from Malaysia and Singapore to develop long-term solutions, Prayitno said Asean was a good platform to discuss the issue.

“Indonesia is able to handle this, but if we do need the help of our Malaysian and Singaporean counterparts, we will ask, and perhaps, work together. However, we are working via the Asean platform and I believe we can do it. Hopefully, this will not happen again in the years to come,” Prayitno said.

He said, in the future, Indonesia would have an obligation of due diligence to prevent private parties within its territory, jurisdiction or control from causing transboundary environmental harm to other states or areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

“Our government will also have an obligation to punish the perpetrators of wrongful conduct if harm is occasioned,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the ministry has yet to receive word on the Malaysian companies linked to the haze situation.

“Our companies operating in Indonesia are subject to local laws and regulations. If legal action is taken against them, our embassy and consulate in Indonesia will provide necessary assistance,” he said.

Reezal said no protest note was sent to Indonesia on the situation as Malaysia wants to resolve such issues through consultation and cooperation in the Asean spirit.

Previously, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had proposed a bilateral meeting to discuss among others, the haze situation.

However, the meeting, initially scheduled for Sept 25 in Jakarta, was postponed to a later date at Indonesia’s request.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, during his recent working visit to Jakarta, had also raised the haze issue with Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla.

Read more!

How you can trade Southeast Asia's haze

Nyshka Chandran CNBC 23 Sep 15;

The price of palm oil has rallied 7 percent in the past fortnight as a cloak of smog, combined with unusually dry weather, disrupts supply in key Southeast Asian producing countries, and analysts say the gains are set to continue.

Futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange shot up to a one-week high of about $508 a metric ton on Wednesday, a sharp turnaround from a six-year low of $426 plumbed in late August. Bursa Malaysia is the world's biggest palm oil futures trading hub.

Many experts now expect the edible oil to close out the year higher: Religare Institutional Research's year-end target is around $750 a ton, while others like CIMB and Nomura expect more gradual gains to $513 and $529, respectively.

Palm oil, derived from the palm fruit, is used as a raw material in everything from food products to detergents, cosmetics and biofuel. Global palm oil exports last year was valued at $34 billion, according to reports.

Indonesia and Malaysia are two of the world's biggest producers but the region's seasonal haze is lowering production.

Read MoreSingapore's clouds have a pretty hazy lining
Every year, farmers in Indonesia engage in the 'slash-and-burn' technique of cutting down vegetation on a patch of land, then burning off the undergrowth to make space for new plantations. While it is the easiest, fastest and most cost-effective way to clear land, the use of fire is deemed illegal by the Indonesian government since it produces a dense layer of smog across the country as well as over Malaysia and neighboring Singapore, sending air quality readings to alarmingly low levels.

Increased public complaints about the pollution this year have whipped Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration into action. A supplier of Golden Agri Resources, the world's second largest oil palm company, was sanctioned this week for allegedly causing forest fires. More than 200 plantation and forestry companies are currently being investigated, according to local media reports, including one Singapore-listed firm.

As for the impact on the palm fruit, "heavy haze reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the trees and disrupts harvesting during the peak production season," explained Nomura analyst June Ng.

As a result of the smog, companies are finding it difficult to bring their workers to plantations, which is reducing productivity and further weighing on production, added Nirgunan Tiruchelvam, research director at Religare Capital Markets.


Don’t forget about El Nino

Religare is especially bullish on the commodity's outlook in the face of tightening supply as a result of El Nino, the weather phenomenon that brings severe drought to Asia. This year's event may be one of the most severe on record, according to a September forecast by the World Meteorological Organization.

"A strong 2015-16 El Nino event could disrupt palm oil supply growth in Indonesia and Malaysia. Global palm oil supply could increase by only 1.4 million tons in 2015, before declining by 1.1 million in 2016," warned Ivy Lee, CIMB analyst.

A severe drought at palm oil estates will negatively impact palm oil yields, as the lower rainfall and soil moisture cause trees to experience bunch failure four-to-six months later, she explained.

Read MoreWhy El Niño could mean more pain for energy sector
Indeed, historical evidence points to higher prices. Two out of the three El Nino events since 2002 resulted in higher prices, with palm oil surging 26 percent from 2006-2007 sequentially, said Nomura's Ng.

But Lee and Ng are slightly less bullish on prices compared to Religare's Tiruchelvam, warning that price gains will be slow due to the high level of existing palm oil stocks. August's stockpile rose 10 percent on month to 2.49 million metric tons, noted Nomura.

Stocks to watch

Palm oil producers with high production growth potential like Singapore-listed First Resources are set to benefit from rising prices.

About a third of First Resources' hectarage is expected to enter maturity over 2015-17, which should increase its output growth, Tiruchelvam said, while Lee likes Malaysia's Genting Plantations because of its young estates.

First Resources looks particularly attractive given the added benefit of currency movements, Tiruchelvam notes. Its revenues are denoted in dollars, while its costs are in rupiah, so the latter's 18 depreciation against the U.S. dollar year-to-date supports the company.

"In the event of a prolonged El Nino weather event and oil price volatility, we believe liquid big cap stocks with high correlation to the palm oil price are likely to benefit given their higher leverage to price upside," said Nomura's Ng.

Read more!

Parents say school closures a relief as PSI keeps rising

AMANDA LEE Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Parents welcomed the move to close primary schools and secondary schools with relief, saying that the health of their children is the top priority amid the risk of haze hitting hazardous levels.

Admin officer Noorulain Sheik Mohideen, 48, who has a son in Primary Four, said: “I’m glad the Government decided to make a wise choice. The PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) kept rising every day, I was worried because the haze can affect his health.”

Another parent, Mr Adrian Koo, who has a Primary Four son, said he was glad that schools are closed. “Now that he’s at home, my wife who is a stay-home mum can keep (tabs) on him and ensure that he doesn’t go out,” added the 38-year-old regional manager.

Most parents have also secured childcare arrangements for the one-day break.

Mdm Noorulain, for instance, is handing her son to her elder daughter, an Institute of Technical Education student who is on vacation. If schools remain close for an extended period, her neighbour could help to look after her son, she added.

Still, most parents said they would be worried if schools are still closed after the weekend, as their children’s academic progress may be affected.

Mr Koo said schools can perhaps leverage on e-learning. “It would be better that way, so my son won’t miss out much if schools continue to be closed,” he said.

With the haze hitting Singapore amid the exam season, some others are concerned about how the closure will affect the last lap of learning.

Mdm Siti Habsah, who has a Primary Six son, fretted that her son may miss out on revision classes ahead of the Primary School Leaving Examinations next week. “This is actually a very crucial period for him, I hope the schools won’t remain closed for long,” said the 37-year-old admin executive. AMANDA LEE

Schools to close on Friday due to worsening haze situation: MOE
As the haze situation in Singapore worsens, schools in Singapore will be closed on Friday (Sep 25), says the Ministry of Education.
Chan Luo Er and Leong Wai Kit, News 5 Channel NewsAsia 24 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: As hazy conditions in Singapore continue to worsen, primary and secondary schools across the island will be closed on Friday, Sep 25, the Education Ministry announced on Thursday (Sep 24).

At a technical media briefing on Thursday evening, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said the decision was made as a precaution, as air quality could enter Hazardous levels.

Mr Heng added that due to the late notice, parents who are unable to make alternative care arrangements can continue to send their children to school. Teachers will continue to report for duty, and students will be placed in suitable facilities such as libraries and enclosed spaces, Mr Heng said. He added that school-based student care centres will remain open.

MOE will issue press releases should there be any school closures and parents will also be informed by the schools, the ministry added. To avoid confusion, the decision from the previous day on whether to open or shut schools will stay even if there are changes to the air quality.

The Education Minister added that the GCE 'O' level practical examination for Music, originally to be held on Friday, will be rescheduled to Tuesday, Sep 29. More than 100 students are affected and are being notified by schools, while private candidates are being notified by examination boards, he said.

The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) are also armed with haze management plans. For example, air purifiers will be provided during national examinations so that there will be no disruption should the haze worsen during the tests.

If the haze forecast for the following day indicates that air quality could be at the “hazardous” level, prompting school closures, national exams will be rescheduled. This may mean that exam periods will be extended.

The announcement on the rescheduling of examinations will be made together with any announcement by the education ministry on school closure. School candidates will be informed through their schools, while private candidates will be informed by SEAB.

When asked if there are any alternative plans for the Primary School Leaving Examinations that will be held next week should the haze persists at high levels, Mr Heng said: “We will certainly announce our plans … this is a very fast moving situation but we are prepared”.

Mr Heng also said the Early Childhood Development Agency has decided that activities in childcare centres and kindergartens will be scaled down due to the haze conditions.

"As many parents need care arrangements, all childcare and kindergartens including MOE kindergartens will continue to operate and provide care arrangements for children," said Mr Heng.

In a media statement, MOE said all Junior Colleges, Centralised Institutes, and post-secondary education institutions including universities, polytechnics and ITEs will remain open.

"Classes for these students, as well students in Year 5 and 6 of the Integrated Programme, will continue, as the students in these institutions are older, in accordance with the guidelines from MOH’s haze health advisory," MOE said.

The Education Ministry added that the post-secondary education institutions will continue to monitor the wellbeing of students and staff, and will adopt necessary mitigation measures, such as scaling down or ceasing all outdoor and indoor physical activities.

In a statement to the media, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said lessons would also be suspended on Friday for full-time madrasahs and mosque kindergartens.

"However, the madrasahs and mosque kindergartens will still remain open. This is to enable parents who are unable to make alternative care arrangements to continue to send their children there, to be supervised by teachers," MUIS said.

WORSENING HAZE DUE TO CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION: DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN

During the technical briefing, Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said authorities could not rule out the possibility that air quality in the next 24 hours could enter the Hazardous range.

He said worsening haze conditions were due to a tropical storm in the Western Pacific, somewhere to the east of Philippines, which caused a change in wind direction.

Dr Balakrishnan said the situation is of "special concern" as the denser part of the haze cloud is slightly to the south of Singapore. As winds continue to blow from the south and southwest, Dr Balakrishnan said the denser haze cloud is encroaching into Singapore, leading to a volatile but progressively worsening condition on Thursday.

The 24-hour PSI has been trending upwards since 6am, according to data from NEA. At 7pm on Thursday evening, the 3-hour PSI went past the 300-mark for the first time this year, coming in at 313. At 11pm, the 3-hour PSI was 317 and the 24-hour PSI was 226-279, the highest recorded 24-hour PSI this year.

AUTHORITIES TO FOLLOW UP ON ERRANT COMPANIES IDENTIFIED

Dr Balakrishnan revealed on Thursday that some errant companies have been identified, and the authorities will be following up on this.

"Basically we have identified some companies. NEA has also written to the Indonesian authorities, asking for a list of companies whom the Indonesians' investigations have shown may be implicated in this. And then pursuant to our Transboundary Haze Act, we will be issuing notices in the days to come. So, that's a separate exercise which is in progress," he said.

Dr Balakrishnan also urged Singaporeans to focus on official sources for any data on the haze.

"The key point I want to emphasise is that in fact all websites are using NEA data. And my advice to people would be to go back to the original source and the NEA website contains the hourly raw concentrations of PM2.5. That's useful for someone who's about to say, take a jog, or engage in strenuous exercise or wants to decide on whether he should do it indoors or outside, take a look at the hourly raw concentrations," he said.

"For all other activities, we need to have the 24-hour average because that's the basis in which all health advisories are made. So I think we should just use these two - look at the 24-hour indices, look at the hourly raw concentrations and then make appropriate plans."

NO NATIONAL SHUTDOWN OF WORKPLACES: LIM SWEE SAY

At the briefing, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said there would not be a national shutdown of workplaces. However, he said while business and work activities should carry on as normal as possible, it should not compromise the health and safety of workers.

"Individual employers will have to continue to update their risk assessment and pay particular attention to work which are strenuous and that involves prolonged outdoor work. At the same time, they should pay special attention to workers, especially the elderly, the pregnant women as well as workers with heart and lung conditions," Mr Lim said.

ELDERLY, NEEDY CAN COLLECT N95 MASKS FROM CCs

The People's Association (PA) also announced on Thursday that eligible Singaporeans can collect N95 masks from all 108 Community Centres islandwide from 10am on Friday.

Eligible Singaporeans include:

All holders of MOH's Community Health Assist Scheme CHAS) Blue card
All Pioneer Generation Card Holders
All ComCare clients above 62 years old
ComCare clients identified as having longer term medical issues, regardless of age
All Singaporean Citizens who meet the CHAS Blue Card criterion of having less than S$1,100 Household Per-Capita Income
Each eligible recipient will be given two masks, to last for a week, PA said.

ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF MASKS IN PLACE: MTI

The Ministry of Trade and Industry said on Thursday it has adequate plans in place to ensure an adequate supply of masks for bulk purchase by companies with prolonged or strenuous outdoor work.

Each company has an allocated quota specific to their needs, and they can purchase these masks from Dairy Farm Singapore, NTUC FairPrice and Unity Healthcare, MTI said.

SOME LIBRARIES TO OPEN EARLIER: NLB

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the National Library Board (NLB) said some libraries across the island would open earlier, at 9am, on Friday (Sep 25) to provide a space for members of public to stay away from the haze.

- CNA/TODAY/xq/dl

Education Ministry to provide daily updates on school operations
AMANDA LEE Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Education (MOE) will issue press releases should there be any school closures and parents will also be informed by the schools, the agency said yesterday as it declared an unprecedented one-day shutdown of primary and secondary schools due to the haze.

To avoid confusion, the decision from the previous day on whether to open or shut schools will stay even if there are changes to the air quality.

Meanwhile the authority overseeing preschools said that even though child care centres and kindergartens are open today, parents may still wish to take precautionary measures by keeping their children at home.

“Nevertheless all child care centres and kindergartens will remain open to provide custodial care for parents who do not have alternative care arrangements,” said the Early Childhood Development Agency in a press release last night.

As MOE kindergartens and special education schools are closed today, parents who are unable to make alternative care arrangements may also continue to send their children to the schools. Teachers will supervise them, said the education ministry, adding that school-based care centres will operate for existing students.

All Junior Colleges, Centralised Institute and Post-Education Institutes, namely the Autonomous Universities, Polytechnics and ITEs, will remain open. Due to the school closure, the GCE O-Level Music Practical and Higher Music Practical examinations which was scheduled to be held today will be moved to next Tuesday.

The school candidates will be informed through their educational institutes. Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said at a briefing yesterday that a “small number” of slightly over 100 students are affected by the change.

The MOE said primary and secondary schools have haze management plans in place and are ready to put them in place.

The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) are also armed with haze management plans. For example, air purifiers will be provided during national examinations so that there will be no disruption should the haze worsen during the tests.

If the haze forecast for the following day indicates that air quality could be at the “hazardous” level, prompting school closures, national exams will be rescheduled. This may mean that exam periods will be extended.

The announcement on the rescheduling of examinations will be made together with any announcement by the education ministry on school closure. School candidates will be informed through their schools, while private candidates will be informed by SEAB.

When asked if there are any alternative plans for the Primary School Leaving Examinations that will be held next week should the haze persists at high levels, Mr Heng said: “We will certainly announce our plans … this is a very fast moving situation but we are prepared”.

Singapore Sports Hub suspends outdoor activities due to haze
In light of worsening haze conditions, the Singapore Sports Hub on Thursday (Sep 24) says it would be suspending outdoor activities.
Channel NewsAsia 24 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: In light of worsening haze conditions, the Singapore Sports Hub on Thursday (Sep 24) said it would be suspending outdoor activities.

In a statement, the Singapore Sports Hub said outdoor venues would be reopened and outdoor activities will resume when air quality improves.

As of 7pm on Thursday, the 3-hour PSI climbed to 313, while the 24-hour PSI was 210-256, in the Very Unhealthy range.

The Singapore Sports Hub's statement in full:

The Singapore Sports Hub has suspended all strenuous activities at its outdoor venues due to the current deterioration of air quality. Outdoor venues that are affected include the OCBC Aquatic Centre, Splash-N-Surf and Water Sports Centre.

Members of the public who use the 100PLUS Promenade and all public precinct areas such as the outdoor basketball court and beach volleyball court are advised to take the necessary health precautions.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA) website (www.nea.gov.sg), the 3-hr Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) at 6pm is 292, and the 24-hr PSI is 204-248, in the ‘Very Unhealthy’ range.

The Singapore Sports Hub will continue to monitor and assess the haze situation hourly. Outdoor venues will reopen and outdoor activities will resume when the air quality improves.

The public can check the Singapore Sports Hub website, Facebook and Twitter for constant updates.

- CNA/dl

Queues form for iPhone 6S launch despite worsening haze
More than 80 people formed a 100 metre-long queue outside Causeway Point Shopping Centre in Woodlands on Thursday night (Sep 24), in anticipation of the launch of the latest iPhone on Friday - despite the worsening haze.
Sherlyn Goh and Hazlina Abdul Halim, Channel NewsAsia 24 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: A crowd of more than 80 people formed a 100 metre-long queue outside Causeway Point Shopping Centre in Woodlands as of 9pm on Thursday (Sep 24), in anticipation of the launch of the iPhone 6S on Friday - despite the worsening haze.

A group of teenagers in line told Channel NewsAsia that they expected more students to join the queue as all primary and secondary schools will be closed on Friday due to the haze.

Less than 10 per cent of those in the queue were wearing masks. A check with the Watsons and Guardian outlets in the mall found that both had run out of N95 masks for adults, while the ones for children were selling out fast.

'I JUST REALLY WANT TO GET THE PHONE'

At about 6.30am on Friday morning, more than 17 fans were seen queueing at Marina Bay Sands to buy the iPhone 6S from Singtel, one and a half hours ahead of the launch.

By 7.20am, the queue had grown to about 60 people.

The first person in line was a 31-year-old in customer service who only wanted to be known as Mr Lee. He told Channel NewsAsia he arrived at about 4.45am. “I heard (the first person in line) last year came at about 5am, so I just decided to try my luck,” he explained, adding that he intends to buy the 128GB edition of the iPhone 6S in rose gold.

When asked why he decided to join the queue despite the deteriorating air quality, he said: “I just really want to get the phone.”

For Ms Charis Ng, it is her sixth time queueing for an iPhone. The 26-year-old operations and administrations executive arrived at about 5.30am, and is second in line. She plans to get a 128GB iPhone 6S in rose gold. “I think it’s better to queue before and get the phone first, than to queue after that when the queue gets longer,” she said.

The third person in line, a 26-year-old in advertising who only wanted to be known as Mr Chua, joined the queue hours ahead of the launch as he would be starting a new job later in the day. “I was afraid the queue would be too long… it’s my first day of work and I don’t want to be too late.”

Mr Chua, who said he has been a fan of Apple phones since buying the iPhone 4S, said he liked the new Live Photo tool – where the phone would shoot an extra few seconds of video and audio when taking a photo.

The iPhone 6S will also be available from Friday in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and the United States.

- CNA/dl/xq


Haze forces closure of schools across S'pore
Joanna Seow, Lester Hio, Francis Chan, Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, The Straits Times AsiaOne 25 Sep 15;

All primary and secondary schools in Singapore have been forced to close today, after hazy conditions - the worst this year - threatened to become hazardous.

PSI levels yesterday crossed into the very unhealthy range. At 10pm, the 24-hour PSI had soared to 223- 275. Beyond 300, it is hazardous.

This is the first time Singapore's schools are being closed due to the haze.

The decision was made "given the prediction that we cannot rule out the possibility of the haze condition getting into the hazardous range," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat last night, at a multi-agency briefing also attended by Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say.

Some GCE O-level exams set for today have been postponed, while the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) hangs in the balance, as written papers are set to begin next week.

"There will be no national shutdown of workplaces," said Mr Lim, though he added that companies should take measures to help employees, such as enforcing more frequent breaks and making work less strenuous.

The Government is also adding to earlier measures to help people cope with the haze: vulnerable and needy Singaporeans will be able to collect masks from 108 community centres islandwide from 10am to 10pm from today.

Organisations are already taking steps to safeguard members of the public and workers.

The Singapore Sports Hub, for example, suspended strenuous outdoor activities and fast-food restaurants like McDonald's and KFC halted delivery services for now.

There might be some respite over the weekend, as winds are forecast to shift.

But the hazy conditions might last for another month or more, as this is an El Nino year which could see dry weather until November, warned Dr Balakrishnan.

"Our offer of assistance to (the Indonesian authorities) is still on the table, and we still stand ready to work with our ASEAN partners to resolve this problem," he reiterated.

Foreign and Law Minister K. Shanmugam affirmed this stance and described his observations in a Facebook post last night. He wrote: "As I walked around, the impact of the haze, on people, was obvious. I was coughing, eyes itching, the heat oppressive. Our senior citizens must be feeling much worse."

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who was visiting emergency workers in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan on Wednesday, had planned to inspect ground conditions and firefighting efforts in Sumatra yesterday but worsening conditions in Kalimantan prompted him to postpone the trip.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reminded people to take care of their health.

In a Facebook post yesterday, he wrote: "Please drink plenty of water, and avoid going outdoors if you can. Look out for neighbours and friends, and stay safe."

Additional reporting by Francis Chan and Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja


Steps to look after those who turn up in schools
Lester Hio and Joanna Seow, The Straits Times AsiaOne 25 Sep 15;

Parents had to make alternative plans for their children last night as the haze caused primary and secondary schools around the island to be closed.

Video producer Melvyn Goh said his two daughters, who are both in primary school, will stay at home with their helper.

"Thankfully that's settled, because my wife is overseas, so if we didn't have a helper I might have had to cancel my video shoot to look after them," said the 39-year-old.

"My Primary 1 daughter is happy there's no school, but the Primary 4 one said she was 'bummed out' about it because there was a netball competition she was looking forward to."

The Ministry of Education (MOE) had prepared for such an eventuality and is keeping schools open for students who turn up, with supervisors on hand to look after them in libraries and other rooms. National examinations scheduled for today have also been postponed.

More than 100 students who were due to take the GCE O-level Music and Higher Music practical exams today will take them at 8am next Tuesday instead.

They were notified of the rescheduling by their schools yesterday while private candidates were informed by the exam board.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said at a media briefing last night that there has been a general upward trend in the hourly raw concentration of PM2.5 particles, which affects the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI).

There was a brief respite over last weekend and early this week as the winds were blowing from the south and south-east.

The haze returned in force on Wednesday due to a change in wind direction because of a tropical storm in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines.

The storm acts as a "low-pressure zone", said Dr Balakrishnan. That causes wind to blow from the south or south-west, sending haze from a dense haze cloud sitting slightly to the south of Singapore into the nation.

Contingency plans for national examinations are in place should haze conditions remain unhealthy orworsen. All schools have enclosed spaces for candidates to take their exams, and schools will also be provided with air purifiers so that exams are not disrupted.

"We will certainly announce our plans if we need. This is a very fast-moving situation, but we are prepared," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. Should the air quality enter the hazardous level resulting in further school closures, exams will be rescheduled.

Some companies possibly responsible for the haze have been identified, Dr Balakrishnan added.

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act punishes polluters who cause haze. They can be fined up to $100,000 per day, capped at a total of $2 million.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "The National Environment Agency has written to the Indonesian authorities, asking for a list of companies whom the Indonesian investigations have shown may be implicated in this. Pursuant to our Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, we will be issuing notices in the days to come."


Delivery services and outdoor activities suspended
Lim Yi Han, Joanna Seow, Kok Xing Hui, Straits Times 25 Sep 15;

Companies providing delivery services have taken precautions against the hazy weather. One of them is food delivery platform foodpanda, which has issued N95 masks and antiseptic wet tissues to all riders.

Companies and organisations have suspended services or activities because of the haze, and made changes to help workers.

Fast-food restaurants like McDonald's and KFC, for instance, stopped their delivery services as of last night.

In a Facebook post yesterday night, McDonald's said that it will be halting delivery orders until further notice to ensure the safety of its riders. KFC also said that it will resume delivery services "as soon as condition permits".

Mr Max Loh, ASEAN and Singapore managing partner of professional services firm EY, said the firm has an ongoing flexible working programme where staff can request to work from home on an ad-hoc basis as agreed with their team leaders. "Given the current haze situation, staff can leverage this programme if they wish to minimise commuting to and from work," he said.

Professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Singapore said that it had given staff N95 masks and stopped outdoor activities, and was ready to put additional measures in place.

The Singapore Sports Hub also suspended all strenuous activities at its outdoor venues due to the deterioration of air quality yesterday. Outdoor venues affected include the OCBC Aquatic Centre and Water Sports Centre, said the Sports Hub.

It will "continue to monitor and assess the haze situation hourly". Outdoor venues will reopen and activities will resume when the air quality improves, it added.

The haze is also taking a toll on people here.

Dr Koh Hau Tek, medical director of Parkway Shenton, said its clinics are already seeing a 15 per cent increase in the number of patients with haze-related symptoms in the last two weeks after the haze started. "In the last two days alone, we are seeing a further 5 per cent increase in such cases," he said.

"If the PSI readings remain high over the next few days, we would expect to see even more cases as the typical presentation occurs only several days after prolonged exposure to severe haze."

And Dr Yik Keng Yeong from Tan and Yik Clinic and Surgery in Bishan said he has seen about 20 per cent more patients in the last two weeks with haze-related health issues, including bronchitis, respiratory tract infection and dermatitis.

A Ministry of Health (MOH) spokesman said hospitals were asked to ensure ample circulation of clean air indoors. For naturally ventilated wards, measures including closing windows and using portable air coolers have been implemented.

Since Sept 16, MOH has also activated the haze subsidy scheme, which subsidises treatment for haze-related conditions at participating general practitioners and polyclinics.


PA, other agencies step up efforts to help the vulnerable
Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — Following an initial raft of measures last week to ensure that the vulnerable — such as the elderly living alone — are prepared to deal with the effects of the haze, the People’s Association is stepping up its efforts.

It is setting up distribution points at 108 community centres islandwide to give out N95 masks to the low-income and elderly. These places will be open from 10am to 10pm from today.

Each eligible recipient — including Pioneer Generation cardholders, ComCare clients aged over 62, and Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) Blue cardholders — will be given two masks.

Members of the PA grassroots organisations will also visit residents who are immobile, sick and living alone. Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin also shared on his Facebook page that residents who need respite can go to their local community clubs to use the air-conditioned rooms, and the same will be available at Residents’ Committee centres from today.

Last week, the PA kicked off the distribution of 30,000 WeCare packs to help the vulnerable prepare for the haze. The packs contain an N95 mask as well as items such as instant noodles, biscuits, instant beverages, canned food, Vitamin C tablets, and eye drops.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry yesterday assured the public that it has a plan in place to ensure there are enough N95 masks for companies here with staff engaged in prolonged or strenuous outdoor work to make bulk purchases, and each company has been allocated a quota.

The ministry has activated its stockpile and assured the public it is prepared to meet requests for replenishment of stocks from retailers Dairy Farm Singapore, NTUC FairPrice, and Unity Healthcare.

Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said that there will be no national shutdown of businesses, as business activities should be kept going “as normal as possible”, but this should be done without compromising the health and safety of workers.

“Individual employers will have to continue to update their risk assessment and pay particular attention to work that is strenuous and involves prolonged outdoor work. At the same time, they should pay special attention to workers, especially the elderly, pregnant women, as well as workers with heart and lung conditions,” Mr Lim said at a media briefing yesterday.

The Ministry of Manpower advised companies to adopt risk-mitigating measures to make work less strenuous, for example, with the use of mechanical aids, and by scheduling more rest breaks for employees engaged in outdoor work.


It's the tiny things in the haze, not its look or smell, that matter
Linette Lai The Straits Times AsiaOne 24 Sep 15;

It is that time of year again - when N95 masks fly off the shelves, air purifiers get dusted off, and complaints about sore throats and dry eyes soar.

Some days, people in Singapore wake up to an acrid smell, while smog-like shrouds block out the horizon and private planes have to be diverted to Johor.

But as bad as the air might look or smell, the average Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings over a 24-hour period have not gone into the "very unhealthy" range (201-300), instead swinging between "moderate" (51-100) and "unhealthy" (101-200).

Experts say that people should not draw conclusions on air quality based on just visibility levels, or how bad the haze smells.

The haze could be more visible because there is more water vapour in the air, according to the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. And the smell may be caused by other compounds generated when vegetation and peat are burned.

"The low visibility and acrid smell associated with the haze... are subjective and cannot be used to measure air quality," said air pollution researcher Erik Velasco of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology's Centre for Environmental Sensing and Modelling.

To put things in perspective, on a day when PM2.5 levels hit 100 micrograms per cubic m, a person will take in around 1,100 mcg of these pollutants if he or she stays outdoors throughout the day. For comparison, a smoker will inhale between 10,000 mcg and 40,000 mcg of PM2.5 pollutants for every cigarette consumed.
Instead, one of the best ways to determine how unhealthy the air is in real time is to look at the one-hour PM2.5 levels published by the National Environment Agency (NEA), say experts.

Typically, two types of particles make up the haze.

There are the coarser ones, which the human body is mostly equipped to filter out. These particles are large enough to be trapped by the nasal passages or end up being passed directly through the body.

The bigger worry is the PM2.5 pollutants - so called because they are no larger than 2.5 microns, or a thirtieth the diameter of a human hair.

These can become trapped deep in the lungs and are tiny enough to pass through linings into the bloodstream.

Long-term exposure to these particles on a regular basis has been linked to increased risk of death from heart and lung complications such as lung cancer or heart disease.

On a regular, non-hazy day, the maximum concentration of PM2.5 is usually between 20 and 35 micrograms (mcg) per cubic m, said Dr Velasco. They start becoming a serious problem when the numbers hit 100, and dangerous when they exceed 200.

Yesterday, the one-hour PM2.5 levels started off in the 20s at 1 am, but topped 100 in many parts of the island by midday.

Starting in May last year, the Government incorporated PM2.5 levels in the calculation of the overall PSI for the first time to give a more accurate measurement of air quality.

The short-term effect of high PSI levels is apparent to anyone who stays outdoors for too long- headaches, irritation of the eyes and nose, and aggravation of conditions such as asthma or bronchitis.

But the long-term health impact of exposure to haze for a couple of months a year -as in Singapore's case-has rarely been studied or fully understood.

Most people would agree that it is bad for one's health, but just how bad is it?

Said atmospheric chemist Mikinori Kuwata,who is with the Nanyang Technological University: ''To understand the health impact, you have to first understand the haze itself.''

While major pollutants such as ozone are present, researchers are still trying to figure out all the other chemicals which make up the smoke- especially particulate matter- that has blown hundreds of kilometres from Sumatra, and how they interact with each other on the way here.

Dr Kuwata said that researchers also refer to air pollution studies elsewhere, for instance the US, which has its own problems with peat fires. These studies have linked the fires with more hospital visits for heart failure and asthma-related complications.

But the findings cannot be extrapolated to this region because of differences in the chemical composition of pollutants.

For example, temperature and humidity, which change the way chemicals in the air interact with one another, are very different in the tropics compared to the US.

The peat fires in Indonesia also occur in soil of a different composition.

In a study conducted in 2013- when the three-hour PSI level hit a record 401 during the haze- environmental engineer Rajasekhar Balasubramanian looked at the health risks for a person who has been exposed to haze for a prolonged period of time.

He found that if Singapore were to be exposed for 10 days every year for 70 years to air pollution levels similar to those recorded during that June 20 to June 28 haze period, an average of 18 people in a million could get cancer in their lifetimes.

He also collected air samples between Sept 12 to Oct 2 when there was no haze. The risk of developing cancer fell to 12 in a million people for the non-haze period.

The study was published last year in the journal Environmental Scienceand Technology.

To put things in perspective,on a day when PM2.5 levels hit 100mcg per cubic m, a person will take in around 1,100mcg of these pollutants if he or she stays outdoors throughout the day.

For comparison, a smoker will inhale between 10,000mcg and 40,000mcg of PM2.5 pollutants for every cigarette consumed.

The average healthy person should not be unduly worried about the levels of haze experienced this year, say experts.

''We should be objective,'' said respiratory specialist Yap Wee See of Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.

''When the haze is at a lower level, slight modifications to your lifestyle to reduce exposure are probably enough,'' said Dr Yap.

If PM2.5 readings rise above 100, for example, it might be a good idea to move that evening run to an indoor gym.

Children, pregnant women,the elderly and those with chronic conditions should also take greater care to avoid the haze.

Symptoms like eye or throat irritation are caused by short-term exposure to the haze and are usually self-limiting, said Dr Liew Woei Kang of the SBCC Baby and Child Clinic.

His advice for coping with the haze? ''Drink lots of water to flush out the inhaled toxins, and take a healthy balanced diet rich in anti-oxidants.''

Read more!

Haze reaches hazardous level for first time since 2013

AMANDA LEE Today Online 25 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — For the first time since 2013, the air quality here has entered hazardous levels. This morning (Sept 25), the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) entered the hazardous range when it registered 243-309 at 4am before climbing to 250-315 at 5am. As of 9am, the 24-hour PSI was 268-320.

Yesterday, the Government took the unprecedented step to close primary and secondary schools for a day, while the Government moves to activate mitigation measures, although it did not declare a national stop-work order.

Yesterday, a dense haze shrouded the Republic in an acrid pall, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) at “very unhealthy” levels for most of the day (200 to 300), while the three-hour PSI soared past the 300-mark to hit 317 as of 11pm. The one-hour PM2.5 concentration ranged from 241 to 208 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The authorities said the persistent haze over Sumatra has continued spreading to the surrounding region, with the denser part of the haze seen to the south of Singapore. The rapid deterioration in air quality was because of a change in wind direction brought about by a tropical storm off the Philippines. With the prevailing wind direction, “the possibility of the air quality going into the hazardous range cannot be excluded”, said the authorities.

The decision by the Ministry of Education to close schools was made after the 7pm forecast by the National Environment Agency, in consultation with the Ministry of Health. MOE kindergartens and Special Education schools will also be closed, but school-based care centres will remain open, and parents who cannot make alternative care arrangements can still send their children to schools to be supervised by teachers.

O-Level music and higher music practical examinations scheduled for today will be postponed to Sept 29. This will affect about 100 students, who will be informed through the schools.

Minister for the Environment and Water Vivian Balakrishnan, speaking at a media briefing — which was also attended by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say — said it was difficult to predict how conditions would develop over the next few weeks. While El Nino is expected to last until November, weather changes such as tropical storms can alter wind patterns, bringing the haze with them.

Air quality “can get worse before it gets better”, he said, adding: “We cannot exclude the possibility that we will end up in the hazardous range.”

Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam had sharp words for the Indonesian authorities in a Facebook post yesterday. “The Indonesian government has said that it is taking steps to deal with the problem. We hope those steps will lead to lasting outcomes, and we are prepared to work with Indonesia on this. Yet at the same time, we are hearing some shocking statements made, at senior levels, from Indonesia, with a complete disregard for our people, and their own — PSI levels in parts of Indonesia are at almost 2,000 (PSI above 350 is considered hazardous in Indonesia).”

As the haze steadily worsened yesterday, the Singapore Sports Hub announced it was closing its outdoor venues due to the poor air quality, while the Land Transport Authority slowed MRT train speeds between the Admiralty and Marsiling stations as a precaution against reduced visibility.

While current public transport service levels have been maintained, public transport operators will activate their haze management plans if the situation worsens, the LTA said. If visibility is poor, the speed of the above-ground MRT trains may be reduced as a precaution, as is already the case between Admiralty and Marsiling stations. “SBST and SMRT have also issued N95 masks to their bus captains for their use, if necessary,” the LTA said, adding it will put up advisories where necessary to alert motorists to drive carefully.

The People’s Association will be setting up mask distribution points at its community centres from today for the low-income and elderly. Businesses, meanwhile, moved to reduce outdoor exposure for their staff. Esso, for example, posted a sign informing customers that its attendants would be indoors if three-hour PSI levels hit 200 or more.

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, which drew large crowds when it was last opened to the public on National Day, was relatively hushed in comparison yesterday, though Mr Randall Tan, who was present with his wife and three sons, did not think the haze was an issue. “I promised to bring my two younger kids here,” said the 42-year-old finance admin manager. “I’m not so worried about the haze, I’ll just ask (the children) to drink water so they can stay hydrated.”

The haze did not stop some from queuing for the latest iPhone 6s, sales of which start today. Over at the Courts outlet at Somerset, there were at least 50 people in line, and the retailer was giving out complimentary masks and water.

Several football clubs — Hougang United, Warriors, and Albirex — suspended training yesterday, despite upcoming matches. The two S.League football matches scheduled today will go on as planned, an S.League spokesperson told TODAY. He added that as a guiding principle, football matches will be delayed should the three-hourly PSI exceed 150.

General manager Nicholas Low of Hougang United Football Club said some football training sessions were shortened last week as the PSI level was close to or exceeded 150. For example, instead of a two-hour training session, it was shortened to an hour of training, said Mr Low.

Albirex Football Club manager Koh Mui Tee said: “With the haze (worsening), safety remains a concern for our players.”


3-hour PSI passes 300-mark for first time this year
Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, healthy people should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, said the NEA. The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise outdoor activity, while those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid it altogether.
Channel NewsAsia 24 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: Hazy conditions in Singapore further deteriorated over Wednesday night, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Thursday (Sep 24). This was due to denser haze from Sumatra being blown in by the prevailing southerly winds.

As of 7pm on Thursday, the 3-hour PSI climbed to 313, while the 24-hour PSI was 210-256, in the Very Unhealthy range. The NEA added that these conditions are expected to persist for the rest of the day, and that there could be further deterioration in the air quality on Thursday, as the prevailing winds are forecast to blow from the south-southeast or south-southwest.

The 24-hr PSI for the next 12 hours is expected to be in the high end of the Unhealthy range and the low end of the Very Unhealthy range, and may enter the mid-section of the Very Unhealthy range if denser haze from Sumatra continues to be blown in, said the NEA.

Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, healthy people should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, the NEA advised. The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise outdoor activity, while those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid it altogether.

PIZZA HUT SUSPENDS DELIVERY SERVICE

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Pizza Hut said it has suspended delivery services due to worsening hazy conditions.

"We will resume our service as soon as conditions permit," the pizza chain said.

- CNA/rw/dl

Read more!

Singapore's mother of all coral reefs

Model of coral larvae dispersal shows Sisters' Islands to be source of reef diversity
Chang Ai-Lien Straits Times 25 Sep 15; and AsiaOne

The Sisters' Islands, home to Singapore's first marine park, are also Singapore's "mother reef" of sorts, researchers have found.

The waters around the two islands are the likely source of the country's impressive coral diversity, thanks to currents which can pull coral larvae in to take root there.

When corals there spawn, they then migrate to St John's, Kusu, Semakau and other islands, says the National Parks Board (NParks), which, together with research and consulting group DHI Water and Environment, developed a model to simulate coral larvae dispersal patterns for the first time in Asia.

"This was essentially agent-based modelling to understand the biological connectivity of our reef habitats," said Dr Karenne Tun, deputy director of the coastal and marine branch of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre.

"We looked at our reef habitats and which were 'source' or 'sink' reefs. From there, we can look at which areas are most important for conservation and make better management decisions."

When corals spawn, the eggs and sperm released into the water join to form free-floating larvae, which float in the water column until they find a suitable home, usually a hard surface they can latch on to.

NParks' new technique to simulate coral larvae dispersal patterns takes into account a complex interplay of factors to track the patterns of the tiny, lightweight larvae during their travels, including hydrodynamics, predators and their response to temperature and exposure to air.

What the researchers found: The country's reefs are generally well connected, with larvae able to flow freely among them. The southern Sisters' Islands, surrounded by waters with sufficiently strong current, are ideally located .

"If we can improve the reef quality, there's a good chance that corals there can spread their progeny throughout Singapore," said Dr Tun.

The currents around Singapore, however, are too strong for most larvae to enter or leave local waters.

"So for our coral reefs to survive, the system has to be self-sustaining," she explained. "We cannot depend on larvae coming in from outside our waters."

So it is apt that the Sisters' Islands Marine Park has been designated Singapore's first marine park.

The 40ha park, about the size of 50 football fields, comprises Sisters' Islands and surrounding reefs, as well as the western reefs of nearby St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor. Its ecosystem supports corals, anemones, seahorses, fish and other marine life.

NParks, which manages the marine park, will open dive trails there to allow the public to experience the rich sea life it holds, and is also using the area for research.

Despite massive redevelopment, Singapore's marine biodiversity remains rich. More than 250 species of hard coral have been recorded in our waters, about 40 per cent of the types of corals found in South-east Asia, and around one-third of the global total.

And since Sisters' Islands have proved to be an ideal nursery, other coral colonies are already being transplanted there from areas undergoing development.

A project to relocate coral colonies to protect them from the impact of the Tuas Terminal development has yielded positive results, for instance.

The corals were moved from the Sultan Shoal, south-west of Singapore, to three southern sites at St John's and Sisters' Islands, and about 80 per cent, or 2,300 out of 2,800 coral colonies, were moved successfully.

And amid works to expand the Semakau Landfill, more than 700 coral colonies were moved from a lagoon there to the marine park.

The ambitious goal is to develop a "gene tank" nursery at Sisters' Islands to nurture the rarest of specimens found in local waters, to increase the odds of such corals flourishing again.

"We will do a very targeted search and harvest of rare or not widely distributed corals, and transplant some of them to the nursery," said Dr Tun.

Dr Lena Chan, the director of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre, said it will also be applying modelling to mangroves and seagrasses.

"Besides corals, seagrasses and mangroves are intricately related, and our marine organisms spend part of their life in one or the other," she said.

"Hence such modelling will enable us to conserve and manage our marine biodiversity better, in a science-based manner."

Read more!

Nature takes root where man has built

Life on artificial shores and structures can help maintain good water quality in S'pore
Ria Tan Straits Times 25 Sep 15; and AsiaOne
The writer, Ms Ria Tan, is the founder of www.wildsingapore.com. During her rounds of coastal areas in Singapore, she has seen mangrove trees, seagrasses and marine life sprout up on their own on man-made structures.

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is happening now - unintentionally, with zero replanting.

A coral reef has settled naturally on the seawalls at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, mangroves have taken root on the artificial seawalls at Pulau Hantu - the trees are from diverse species and are tall and healthy. Seagrass meadows thrive inside the Tanah Merah artificial lagoon. And I was astonished to see a lot of corals, as well as seagrasses and other marine life at East Coast Park, on artificial reclaimed land.

I first noticed mangrove trees on Pulau Hantu's artificial seawalls in April 2009. They were already well established and had probably been growing there for some time.

The different mangrove trees seen included common ones like api-api bulu, perepat, nyireh bunga, bakau putih, tumu and bakau kurap. There are also those listed as vulnerable on our Red List, such as tengah putih and bakau pasir.

The structure of the wall may have had a part to play in this. While the top part of the wall is sealed and smooth (the gaps between the rocks filled up with cement), the lower part is made up of unsealed rocks.

Perhaps if we build our seawalls with mangrove colonisation in mind we can have lovely green seawalls in Singapore!

Besides the big trees on the seawall itself, there are also lots of little mangrove trees settling in the lagoon. Hopefully, they will get the chance to grow up.

With a mangrove forest, the island would be one of the few places in Singapore where a nice range of shore ecosystems exist in a continuum, as nature meant it - mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs.

I have even seen mangrove trees settling on artificial seawalls on our northern coast, including at Kranji near the Kranji Dam.

And at Tanah Merah, there are two large patches of critically endangered smooth ribbon seagrasses, which were previously found only at Pulau Ubin's Chek Jawa and Cyrene Reef near Jurong Island. The structure of the lagoon - a shallow sheltered sandy spot protected by seawalls with natural vegetation on the shore - may have helped to allow the seagrasses to settle naturally.

They are dotted with many living haddon's carpet anemones and home to a variety of small creatures such as hermit crabs, snails and fishes, and sea cucumbers too. Three other species of seagrasses have settled on this artificial shore: spoon seagrass, tape seagrass and the critically endangered sickle seagrass.

Among the amazing creatures I encountered here were a spotted eagle ray.

Lush seagrasses are also thriving at East Coast Park. The spoon seagrass and needle seagrass is home to many sea stars, colourful sea cucumbers and rarely seen fig snails.

We have even seen lush growths of needle seagrass in the lagoon used for wakeboarding.

Although we have yet to see signs of dugong feeding-trails on the seagrasses growing on these artificial shores, we have regularly seen dugong feeding-trails on seagrass meadows elsewhere in Singapore.

A reef has settled naturally on the artificial seawalls at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. A wide variety of corals and marine life can be found there.

Amazingly, these corals survived the massive oil spill of May 2010 and global coral-bleaching in the same year that hit this stretch of shore.

Among the hard corals are large colonies of delicate branching and plate-forming corals, as well as less common species such as lettuce coral, Horn coral and even rarer species such as cabbage coral .

The structure of the wall may have helped to allow the corals to settle here naturally. There is a wide platform of open rocks which seems to be at the perfect level for them to grow.

Artificial shores such as East Coast Park are locations of some of the most spectacular marine sightings. For instance, a huge mother hawksbill sea turtle came ashore there to lay eggs in 2013, and baby sea turtles were seen hatching at East Coast Park in 2006.

Otters have also been spotted at East Coast Park, as well as Tanah Merah's artificial shores.

Why should we care about mangroves growing on our seawalls, or seagrass and corals surviving on our artificial shores?

Mangroves and other natural ecosystems such as seagrasses and coral reefs can help maintain good water quality.

They can be living barriers that may help mitigate the impact of rising seas and climate change, such as flooding, saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies and the impact of more severe weather.

Natural and wild ecosystems that are self-generating and self-sustaining are relatively inexpensive to maintain and provide a wider spectrum of experiences compared with manicured gardens.

They can be beautiful and provide recreational enjoyment.

Easy access will allow schools bountiful opportunities for nature-related learning.

If massive reclamation plans are to go ahead at East Coast Park and other spots, this could be done to allow and encourage natural regeneration.

We could build structures which allow reefs to settle on the outside of seawalls, and encourage mangroves and seagrasses to grow on the inside of seawalls and shallow lagoons.

By naturalising canals leading to the sea, we would enjoy a continuum of freshwater wetlands to mangroves.

Imagine what's possible - kilometres of reefs and natural marine ecosystems at our doorstep - Singapore's "Great Barrier Reef" on the mainland, for all in the city to enjoy.

Wild about Singapore's nature
Nature activist and environmentalist Ria Tan is passionate about Singapore's marine life, to say the least.

The 54-year-old runs popular wildlife website WildSingapore, a one-stop platform for those who want to learn about Singapore's natural heritage and how to do more for nature conservation.

For the last 15 years, Ms Tan has been monitoring about 40 Singapore shores regularly, making about 100 surveys a year with a small team of hardcore volunteers.

Her blog, Wild Shores of Singapore, can be found on the website, which includes an online guide to Singapore's common marine life.

Ms Tan also provides free use of more than 40,000 photos of Singapore's reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves and more.

The retired civil servant trains nature guides and helped set up guided walks at Chek Jawa, Pulau Semakau and the Sisters' Islands Marine Park.

She started TeamSeaGrass, which has about 200 volunteers regularly monitoring the seagrass on Singapore's shores.

Ms Tan also volunteers with the Mega Marine Survey of Singapore, an initiative that takes stock of Singapore's marine biodiversity, in a collaboration with the National Parks Board.

As part of the Friends of Ubin Network, she organised Ubin Day the past two years.

An associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Ms Tan also volunteers as a guide with the nature group Naked Hermit Crabs.

She has co-authored the Chek Jawa Guidebook, the Wild Singapore coffee-table book and Southern Shores guidesheet.

She is currently working on new marine nature guidebooks for Singapore.


Related links
Sharing an imagined Singapore 'Great Barrier Reef'
City in a Reef: my feedback on the Draft Master Plan 2013

Read more!

Malaysia-Indonesia Meeting on haze postponed twice … due to haze

The Star 24 Sep 15;

KUCHING: A meeting between Malaysia and Indonesia on the haze has been postponed twice … and all because of the haze.

The meeting between Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar scheduled for Thursday in Jakarta has been postponed.

The reason: Wan Junaidi had to shelve his trip to Jakarta due to the worsening haze in Indonesia.

Their meeting, to discuss the contents and terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to combat the trans-boundary haze, was first scheduled for Sept 18.

However, it was postponed because of the haze as well.

A ministry statement on Thursday said a new date for the meeting had yet to be set.

"The haze is getting worse and a state of emergency had been declared in a number of places in Indonesia.

"Dr Siti Nurbaya is now actively involved in bringing the necessary aid to the people in these affected places," it said.

The MoU is to focus on the enforcement of laws, zero-burning practice for parties in Indonesia, peat soil management and collaboration between the countries when haze-causing fires break out.

This MoU between the two neighbours was agreed to during the 17th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution in July. – Bernama

Meeting on haze with Indonesia put off again
The Star 25 Sep 15;

KUCHING: The meeting to discuss the transboundary haze has been put off for the third time due to the worsening situation in Indonesia.

The meeting between Malaysia and Indonesia on the haze has been postponed twice before, also due to the poor air quality.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Indonesian Minister of Environ­ment and Forestry Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar were scheduled to meet in Jakarta yesterday.

Their meeting, to discuss the contents and terms of a memorandum of understanding to combat the transboundary haze, was first scheduled for Sept 18.

A statement from the ministry yesterday said a new date for the meeting had yet to be set.

“The haze is getting worse and a state of emergency has been declared in a number of places in Indonesia.

“Dr Siti Nurbaya is now actively involved in bringing the necessary aid to the people in the affected places,” it said.

The MoU is to focus on the enforcement of laws, zero-burning practice in Indonesia, peat soil management and collaboration between the countries when haze-causing fires break out.

Indonesia is also expected to sign similar agreements with Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.

In January, Indonesia was the last member country to ratify the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

This MoU between the two neighbours was agreed to during the 17th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Wan Junaidi had said that the MoU would be signed before the end of the year and that the draft had been completed. — Bernama


Meeting on haze with Indonesia put off again
The Star 25 Sep 15;

KUCHING: The meeting to discuss the transboundary haze has been put off for the third time due to the worsening situation in Indonesia.

The meeting between Malaysia and Indonesia on the haze has been postponed twice before, also due to the poor air quality.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Indonesian Minister of Environ­ment and Forestry Dr Siti Nurbaya Bakar were scheduled to meet in Jakarta yesterday.

Their meeting, to discuss the contents and terms of a memorandum of understanding to combat the transboundary haze, was first scheduled for Sept 18.

A statement from the ministry yesterday said a new date for the meeting had yet to be set.

“The haze is getting worse and a state of emergency has been declared in a number of places in Indonesia.

“Dr Siti Nurbaya is now actively involved in bringing the necessary aid to the people in the affected places,” it said.

The MoU is to focus on the enforcement of laws, zero-burning practice in Indonesia, peat soil management and collaboration between the countries when haze-causing fires break out.

Indonesia is also expected to sign similar agreements with Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.

In January, Indonesia was the last member country to ratify the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

This MoU between the two neighbours was agreed to during the 17th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Wan Junaidi had said that the MoU would be signed before the end of the year and that the draft had been completed. — Bernama

Read more!

Malaysia: Haze continues to deteriorate in Southern Peninsula

New Straits Times 25 Sep 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor remains the worst hit area for haze as air quality turned unhealthy this morning for six areas nationwide.

The 7am Air Pollutant Index (API) reading for Pasir Gudang at 191 hovered just nine points of the very unhealthy stage of 200. Larkin Lama was not far behind at 180 and Kota Tinggi was at 130.

The situation also continued to deteriorate in the east coast of the peninsula as four locations in Pahang and Terengganu saw their API increasing in the unhealthy air quality range.

In Kuantan, Balok Baru’s reading was at 155 and Indera Mahkota was at 133 on the API scale.

Kemaman and Paka also saw air quality worsening at 143 and 106 on the API scale.

A total of 29 other locations nationwide saw moderate air quality and only 15 areas saw a reading of good air quality.

Meanwhile across the cause way in Singapore, the situation continued to be grim, as hazy conditions are expected to worsen today.

The National Environment Agency said the haze situation could further worsen because of the prevailing winds.
The republic’s authorities late yesterday, ordered emergency school closures as air pollution reached "hazardous" levels.

HAZE update: 5 areas record unhealthy API
KOI KYE LEE New Straits Times 24 Sep 15;

KUCHING: Two flights scheduled to and from Pontianak from the Kuching International Airport (KIA) were cancelled due to poor visibility caused by the haze in Kalimantan Barat.

According to KIA senior manager Mohd Nadzim Hashim said as of 5pm, a flight scheduled to take off from KIA with 35 passengers to Pontianak was cancelled while another flight from Pontianak to KIA involving 34 passengers was also cancelled.

“There was no other flight delays - whether taking off or arrival, though visibility was recorded at 2,000m,” he told Bernama when contacted.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE), as at 4pm, the Air Pollutant Index (API) throughout Sarawak remained at moderate level.

Samarahan recorded the highest API at 92, Sarikei (87), Kuching (85) and Sibu (74).–BERNAMA

Read more!

Indonesia: President holds meeting in forest

Antara 24 Sep 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo held a meeting right in a forest, even as a fire raged, to discuss ways to develop canals to overcome such fires.

"We have already discussed this just now. The governor said he was not able to implement (such an idea) because the budget is not available at the district. So, I have ordered the BNPB (National Disaster Mitigation Agency) and the forestry ministry to immediately do the needful," he said while visiting a forest in the village of Sakakajang in the subdistrict of Jabiren, Pulang Pisau, Central Kalimantan, on Thursday.

Even as soldiers and police personnel were fighting the flames, the President held a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, TNI (military) Commander General Gator Nurmantyo, National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, head of BNPB Willem Rampangilei, Central Kalimantan provincial administration official Hadi Prabowo and Pulang Pisang district head Edy Pratowo.

President Joko Widodo said it was decided in the meeting that a canal would be built to overcome the fires on the 1,900 hectare peat land in Pulau Pisang.

"If the situation is as serious as this, concrete action must be taken," he said.

He said peat land is very vulnerable to fire and therefore, a canal must be built to stop the fire.

"Just five minutes after I entered (the peat land), a fire broke out. The fires are being triggered by something burning underneath the ground. So the key to overcome it is (constructing a) canal," he said. (*)

Indonesia working hard to extinguish forest fires: President
Antara 24 Sep 15;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has been working hard to extinguish the forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands by conducting water bombings and cloud seeding operations, according to President Joko Widodo.

As part of the efforts to end the haze disaster, he also urged the people in Martapura, the capital city of Banjar District, South Kalimantan Province, on Thursday, to stop setting fires to clear land.

Speaking to the people of South Kalimantan after performing the Idul Adha prayer at the Al Karomah grand mosque during his visit to the province, he affirmed that the slash-and-burn land clearing practices should be stopped not only in the yards of houses but also in plantation companies concession areas and roadsides.

At the mosque, President Widodo also donated a big cow to be sacrificed on Idul Adha, or the Day of Sacrifice, which is celebrated by Muslims all over the world.

The president emphasized that his visit to South Kalimantan Province was aimed at coping with the forest and land fires and the haze that had disrupted the peoples lives.

Cloud seeding operations in the provinces of South Sumatra, Jambi, and Riau in Sumatra Island have resulted in rainfall due to the presence of clouds, but in Kalimantan, the situation was different as there were no clouds, he pointed out.

President Widodo and his entourage continued their trip to Central Kalimantan to observe the authorized parties efforts to put out forest and land fires in Kapuas and Pulang Pisau areas.(*)

President visits forest fire-hit Central Kalimantan, postpones North Sumatra visit
Antara 24 Sep 15;

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has decided to visit Central Kalimantan province, which is among the worst hit by forest fires, and postponed his planned visit to North Sumatra.

Jokowi felt obligated to visit Central Kalimantan due to the haze emergency situation in the province, Ari Dwipayana of the presidential communication team noted in a statement, Thursday.

"Initially, after performing the Idul Adha prayers at Al-Karomah Grand Mosque in Banjar District, South Kalimantan, on Sept. 24, 2015, the president along with First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and his entourage would have proceeded to North Sumatra," Dwipayana noted.

However, instead, they visited Kapuas and Pulang Pisau Districts near the border with South Kalimantan Province.

The head of state felt the need to personally observe the forest and plantation fires that have led to the haze emergency status.

He also wanted to ensure that every stakeholder in the province had participated in the efforts to put out the fires.

In the meantime, several hotspots detected in East Kotawaringin (Kotim) District, Central Kalimantan Province, increased significantly to 241 on Tuesday morning (Sept. 22), from only 20 hotspots recorded on the previous day.

"There were 241 hotspots in Kotim on September 22, at 5 a.m. local time," Yulida Warni, the head of the meteorology office at the Haji Asan Airport in Sampit, remarked.

The hotspots were spread across 15 sub-districts in Kotim, and only two sub-districts -- Telaga Antang and Tualan Hulu -- were free from these hotspots.

The sub-district of Antang Kalang had 14 hotspots, Bamaang 16, Bukit Santuai 2, Cempaga 9, Cempaga Hulu 2, Besi 22, Mentawa Baru Ketapang 18, South Mentaya Hilir 11, North Mentaya Hilir 47, Mentaya Hulu 3, Seranau 28, Parenggean 3, Hanaut Isle 24, Telawang 16, and Sampit Bay 26.

Besides Kotim, the neighboring districts of Seruyan and Katingan also had 164 and 128 hotspots respectively.

The hotspots caused thick haze that reduced visibility to below 10 meters in some areas.

The local authorities have undertaken efforts to put out the flames of these forest, peatland, and plantation fires.

The haze emergency response status in Central Kalimantan has been extended from September 20 to September 30, Head of the Central Kalimantan Disaster Mitigation Agency Brigong Tom Moenandaz stated.(*)

South Sumatra still fighting fires
Antara 24 Sep 15;

Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA News) -- South Sumatra governor Alex Noerdin said here on Thursday that efforts were still on to overcome forest and land fires that have been causing haze.

"Together with the personnel from the provincial administration and other offices, I am still continuing with the efforts to overcome the haze problem. The haze is still there and disrupting public activities," he said.

He said a variety of efforts have been undertaken to deal with the problem which still remains due to the extreme weather conditions prevalent currently.

He said with support from various sides and the general public, he believed that the menace of haze would be overcome.

In view of the situation, he called on the people to avoid conducting any activities that may worsen the situation and to always wear masks when leaving home.

The deputy chief of the task force for overcoming forest and land fires, Yulizar Dinoto, said efforts such as inducing rain artificially were undertaken to overcome the haze and fires.

He said the number of fires continued to fluctuate and focus had to remain on fighting these fire spots.

Muslims in Bulungan, the capital of North Kalimantan, had to brave haze as they conducted their Eid al-Adha prayers.

Thousands of people prayed at the Sultan Muhammad Kasimudin mosque in Tanjung Palas amidst a thick haze.

Haze in the region also forced several flights to be cancelled in the past few days. This haze came from forest and land fires in neighboring provinces.

In Sampit, the capital of Kotawaringin Timur in Central Kalimantan, however, Muslims were able to conduct Eid prayers in relatively better conditions without haze hampering them.

"Thank God that today there was almost no haze. Hopefully, there will be no more haze and public activities would not be disrupted anymore," Surya, a villager of Sampit, said.

"I just came from Camba and did not find any haze though a day before it was very thick and I had fallen in a vegetable field because of poor visibility," Rudi, another villager, said.

The number of fires in Kotawaringing Timur was recorded at 86, according to the office of the Meteorology, Geophysics, Climatology at Haji Asan airport in Sampit, which also warned that people must remain alert as the potential of land fires to break was still big.(*)


The men and women fighting the haze at Ground Zero
As the haze situation in Indonesia and around the region worsens, we meet the volunteers, many of them just teenagers, working with army personnel to fight the raging fires in Central Kalimantan.
Kane Cunico Channel NewsAsia 23 Sep 15;

PALANGKA RAYA, Indonesia: For weeks, a thick gray pall has enveloped large swathes of Indonesia and spread well beyond its borders and into that of its neighbours Malaysia and Singapore. The cause - a seemingly incurable rash of fires raging across the forests of Kalimantan and Sumatra.

In Palangka Raya, the provincial capital of Central Kalimantan, the Air Pollution Index (API) reached nearly 2,000 on Wednesday (Sep 23), as it almost did the day before.

While many residents seem resigned to put up with the plague of acrid smoke yearly, a good number have volunteered to join hundreds of troops in fanning out across the land to battle the blaze.

Many of them are just teenagers and some said they have put out as many as 45 fires.

Some sign on indefinitely. As long as the fires are raging, they brave the searing heat and dense smoke and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Others take 10-day contracts which could be extended along the way, according to Pak Toha, a sergeant major.

Pak Toha is responsible for locating the fires and investigating who is behind them. His department was recently put in place by district and provincial authorities.

Part of his job is to make sure he has the inside scoop from villagers and when he spots fires or gets wind of them, he reports the information to the fire department, or Palangka Raya’s disaster management agency.

Earlier on Wednesday, a villager in Jekan Raya, Yamtuni sounded the alarm. "The fire started last night, but we only realised it at about 12pm today. When I noticed there was a fire I called Pak RT Samson and he called the authorities," he told Channel NewsAsia. When the firefighting force arrived, he offered water from a property which he has yet to move into.


Aside from the goodwill of villagers, volunteers rely on trucks carrying as much as 5,000 litres of water. The amount can last for about an hour or two, depending on the size and spread of the fire.

Whilst on the road, volunteer firemen try to yell out to villagers above the din of sirens, asking if they have spotted any fires.

By evening, the firefighters begin packing up. Already low visibility on the roads gets worse as daylight fades. Another group of firefighters will return at 8am to inspect the field, as the fires deep underground could flare up again. If it happens, the volunteers firefighters and police start the slow, painstaking process to snuff them out again.

Read more!

Indonesia: BPKM Says It'll Put a Stop to Coral Sales

Jakarta Globe 24 Sep 15;

Jakarta. Pledging to protect what's left of the country's coral reefs, Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) will no longer issue permits for businesses that cultivate and distribute coral for aquarium decorations.

"As per [Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti]'s recommendations, we will no longer allow either foreign or local businesses to take coral from its natural habitat, because the state of our coral reefs is worrying. This is part of the effort from the BKPM to protect our natural resources," Franky Sibarani, who heads the board, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Franky met with Susi at the BKPM's headquarter on Wednesday to discuss ways to increase foreign investment in the maritime industry, while also protecting natural resources and fishermen across the archipelago.

Both parties are slated to sign a memorandum of understanding soon. The commitment will include BKPM's promise to protect maritime resources as well as strategies to attract foreign investment in sustainable industries.

Read more!

U.S. climate finance in limbo, risking 'trust gap' before Paris

Valerie Volcovici PlanetArk 25 Sep 15;

A looming federal budget confrontation and Republican hostility to UN global-warming talks threaten a U.S. down payment into a key climate-aid fund, money considered vital to a climate deal in Paris this December.

President Barack Obama had requested $500 million in the 2016 budget for the first tranche of its $3 billion pledge into a UN-administered Green Climate Fund (GCF) that would help poorer countries make a transition to clean energy technologies and adapt to climate change.

But Congressional Republicans have vowed to oppose that spending request, and the wider dispute between the President and Republicans over the federal budget has raised the possibility that Obama will not be able to guarantee that U.S. funding before the December summit. Some U.S. officials have started to warn island states and developing countries - among the fund's main potential beneficiaries - of the looming shortfall.

The fund is seen as a down payment by rich countries toward a longer-term climate finance package that would total $100 billion a year by 2020, an amount that developing nations say is a condition for them to sign onto any deal in Paris that would reduce global carbon emissions.

So far, 43 percent of the $10.2 billion pledged to the climate fund has not been fulfilled, with the United States responsible for most of that shortcoming.

"If there's not a firm commitment to financing, there will be no accord, because the countries of the (global) south will reject it," French President Francois Hollande said this month.

A U.S. State Department official told Reuters that meeting its funding pledge is a "key administration priority" and said its ability to convert it into an actual contribution is "key to advancing U.S. interests globally."

"We are working intensively with Congress to make this appropriation happen," the official said in a statement.

But with just two months left before the Paris talks the funding faces stiff resistance.

The House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill this summer directly prohibiting the U.S. from funding the GCF.

And an aide to the Senate environment committee aide told Reuters that Republican senators plan new legislation this fall requiring Congressional oversight for GCF funding.

"Climate finance is an under-riding element of the UN talks that can either further propel this agreement or undermine it completely," the aide said. "The finance issue is a direct hook for the Senate to get involved in the climate talks process."

Republican Senator John Barrasso, chair of the Senate panel that oversees multilateral agreements, told Reuters he will push legislation to require any international aid related to climate change to require Congressional approval.

"It's hard to see an easy path to $500 million. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to have Congressional loose ends tied up by December," said Karen Orenstein, senior policy analyst at Friends of the Earth, an environmental advocacy group.

"This can shift a lot of the plates in the negotiations."

TRUST GAP

Tony de Brum, foreign minister of the Marshall Islands, said countries like his that will rely heavily on climate finance have no confidence that sum will be delivered.

"The fact that the United States - which originally put the $100 billion target on the table - is yet to make its own initial contribution to the GCF is a cause for concern," said de Brum. "This is a big, gaping trust gap that needs to be filled before Paris."

Religious groups joined environmental organizations to press for Congress to approve the funding and have been lobbying since the August recess.

Reverend Mitch Hescox of the Evangelical Environment Network said his group has met with Senate Republicans such as Lindsay Graham, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker on key committees such as appropriations and foreign relations.

"We are working with Republicans in the Senate to show them this is a moral issue for us," Hescox said. "We are going to do all that we can to make sure these funds are appropriated and released."

He said the group's outreach showed some success in July when Republican Senator Mark Kirk voted to support an amendment to the Senate Appropriations Committee bill that would allow the U.S. to contribute to the fund, reversing a prior prohibition.

Developing countries warned U.S. officials not to use Congressional politics as an excuse for not living up to their financial commitments.

"The Americans always say: 'You know how hard it is for us to deal with Congress on the budget.'," said Ronny Jumeau, UN Ambassador of the Seychelles, a member of the Association of Small Island States negotiating bloc.

"Obama cannot come to Paris and not put money on the table. He's got to put his money where his mouth is," he said.

(Editing by Bruce Wallace and Christian Plumb)

Read more!