Whether it Helps or Hurts the Economy, Global Public Wants Governments to Act on Climate Change

UNEP 17 Sep 09;

Nairobi/London, 17 September 2009 - Over sixty percent of people around the world believe combating climate change will be good for the economy.

And even if the economy is harmed, a similar number of people believe governments should act anyway to address climate change.

These are among the findings of a poll by international polling firm GlobeScan, which surveyed 20,000 people from 19 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America. GlobeScan and its research partners conducted the poll between June and August 2009.

The findings come some 80 days before the crucial United Nations climate convention meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark where governments are scheduled to ink a new, forward-looking climate agreement.

Citizens are also sending a strong call to the G20 group of nations meeting in Pittsburgh and world leaders meeting on climate change in New York next week at the invitation of Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary-General.

Doug Miller, Chairman of GlobeScan said, "Citizens across the world believe climate action is vital and has to be a priority - but also that it can go hand-in-hand with economic recovery."

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), added on being presented with the findings, "The best science and the best economics have been telling governments for some time that fast and decisive action is needed on climate change. Now leaders know that if they seal a good and transformative deal in Copenhagen, they will also have the majority of public opinion on their side too."

Impact of Government Investments

Majorities in 14 of 19 countries surveyed believe that government actions to address climate change, such as "investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and public transportation" are good for the economy.


This view is held by significant majorities in Germany (79%), Japan, (79%), Canada (78%), China (76%), France (74%), Australia (74%, United Kingdom (73%), Brazil (70%), Mexico (68%) and the United States (68%).

Only one in five (22%) around the world believe that government investments to address climate change hurt the economy. Kenyans (38%) and Indians (36%) are the most inclined to believe that

this type of government action negatively affects the economy.



Support for Climate Spending

Even if there are negative economic impacts, a similar number still support climate action. Majorities in 15 of 19 countries surveyed support government action to address climate change despite possible detriment to the economy, with support reaching 89 percent in China and 70 percent or more in Australia, France, Kenya, Mexico, and the UK.

Americans stand out among developed countries as having the lowest level of support for government action on climate change even with economic impacts, but a slim majority (52%) still support this type of investment.

Only in Pakistan and the Philippines do majorities oppose their government making investments to address climate change if this hurts the economy.

Strong support for an international agreement to address climate change mirrors other findings of the global survey. There are very high levels of concern over the issue; almost nine in ten people (88%) consider climate change to be a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem. Over the ten years that GlobeScan has tracked the issue, concern over climate change has grown in most countries and there has been very little decreases in concern through the current economic recession.

For more details, please visit www.GlobeScan.com as well as the GlobeScan Insights blog at http://globescaninsights.blogspot.com.

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FACTBOX: The science spurring talks on a U.N. climate pact

Reuters 18 Sep 09;

(Reuters) - World leaders meet in New York on September 22 to try to revive stalled talks on a new climate treaty that were partly spurred by scientists' bleak findings in 2007 about likely heatwaves, floods, desertification and rising sea levels.

Following are highlights of that report, by the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and some more recent findings. IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri says evidence for global warming has strengthened in the past two years.

* OBSERVED CHANGES

"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal," the IPCC said. Two studies published in the past year found evidence of warming in Antarctica, the only continent previously outside the global trend.

* CAUSES OF CHANGE

The IPCC said it was "very likely" -- a 90 percent probability -- that most of the temperature rise in the past half century was because of human emissions of greenhouse gases, mostly from burning fossil fuels.

* PROJECTED CLIMATE CHANGES

Temperatures are likely to rise by between 1.1 and 6.4 Celsius (2.0 and 11.5 Fahrenheit) and sea levels by between 18 cms and 59 cms (7-23 inches) this century -- by more if a thaw of Antarctica and Greenland accelerates, the IPCC said.

Africa, the Arctic, small islands and Asian mega-deltas are likely to be especially affected by climate change.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said this month that sea levels may rise by 0.5 to 2 meters this century. He said that summer ice on the Arctic Ocean -- which shrank to a record low in 2007 -- could virtually disappear by 2030.

* FIVE REASONS FOR CONCERN - IPCC

-- Risks to unique and threatened systems, such as polar or high mountain ecosystems, coral reefs and small islands.

-- Risks of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts and heatwaves.

-- Distribution of impacts -- the poor and the elderly are likely to be hit hardest, and countries near the equator, mostly the poor in Africa and Asia, generally face greater risks such as of desertification or floods.

-- Overall impacts -- there is evidence since 2001 that any benefits of warming would be at lower temperatures than previously forecast and that damages from larger temperature rises would be bigger.

-- Risks of "large-scale singularities," such as rising sea levels over centuries; contributions to sea level rise from Antarctica and Greenland could be larger than projected by ice sheet models.

* SOLUTIONS/COSTS

Governments have a wide range of tools -- higher taxes on emissions, regulations, tradable permits and research. An effective carbon price could help cuts, the IPCC said.

It said emissions of greenhouse gases would have to peak by 2015 to limit global temperature rises to 2.0 to 2.4 Celsius over pre-industrial times, the strictest goal assessed. In July 2009, the Group of Eight and major economies agreed at a summit in Italy to seek to limit warming to 2 Celsius.

The IPCC said costs of fighting warming will range from less than 0.12 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) per year for the most stringent scenarios until 2030 to less than 0.06 percent for a less tough goal. In the most costly case, that means a loss of GDP by 2030 of less than 3 percent.

FACTBOX: Climate talks on the road to U.N. deal in Copenhagen
Reuters 18 Sep 09;

(Reuters) - Following is a list of major meetings in the run-up to a climate talks in Copenhagen in December meant to agree a new pact to fight global warming.

Copenhagen will cap two years of negotiations launched in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2007 on a pact to succeed the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol:

NEW YORK - September 22 - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon holds one-day summit on climate change for world leaders at U.N. headquarters. U.S. President Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao to be among speakers.

PITTSBURGH, United States - September 24-25 - Leaders of the Group of 20 meet; among issues is to decide ways to finance the fight against climate change.

BANGKOK - September 28-October 9 - Officials from up to 190 countries meet for the fourth session this year of formal negotiations on the Copenhagen deal.

BARCELONA, Spain - November 2-6 - Officials from up to 190 nations hold the fifth and final round of climate talks in 2009 before Copenhagen.

COPENHAGEN - December 7-18 - U.N. talks among 190 nations meant to agree a deal to combat climate change. Environment Ministers are due to attend the final three days, from December 16.

FACTBOX: Climate change costs, offers to pay
Reuters 18 Sep 09;

(Reuters) - Global climate talks are deadlocked on how to share the financial costs of fighting climate change, as world leaders meet at a U.N. summit in New York on September 22.

G20 leaders also meet in Pittsburgh on September 24-25, partly to discuss climate financing.

Agreement on climate funds and who will pay is an important ingredient to get a global deal to fight climate change, as intended in Copenhagen in December.

Climate costs are calculated as the money needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and also prepare for more droughts and floods -- called "mitigation" and "adaptation" respectively.

The World Bank's World Development Report published on September 15 said: "The estimated $75 billion that could be needed annually for adaptation in developing countries dwarfs the less than $1 billion a year now available."

Europe will call next week on rich nations to find up to 7 billion euros ($10.3 billion) annually for the developing world from 2010-2012.

Estimates follow of climate funds needed, proposals on how to raise these, and offers so far.

HOW MUCH MONEY NEEDED

1. Mitigation

* $1.1 trillion per year extra, clean energy investment 2010-2050 for tough carbon cuts -- International Energy Agency

* that total would be reduced to $53 billion per year, after fuel, efficiency savings -- IEA

* 530-810 billion euros ($778-1,189 billion) per year extra investment 2020-2030 -- McKinsey

2. Adaptation

* $100-150 billion per year by 2030 globally for early weather warnings, flood prevention, irrigation -- International Institute for Environment and Development

* $75 billion per year by 2030 needed by developing countries alone -- World Development Report, World Bank

3. Climate funds rich should pay developing countries

* 100 billion euros ($147 billion) per year by 2020 -- European Commission [ID:nLA157955]

* $140 billion per year by 2020 -- Greenpeace

PROPOSALS ON HOW TO RAISE MONEY

1. Norwegian proposal

* Set quotas of greenhouse gas emissions permits for rich nations for 2013-2020 of which 2 percent would be sold to them to raise funds

* Could raise $15-25 billion per year

2. Mexican proposal

* Raise an international fund from all nations, based on their responsibility for causing climate change, national wealth and population

* Could initially raise $10 billion per year

3. European Commission proposal

* Expansion of carbon markets whereby rich countries earn rights to pollute by paying for emissions cuts in the South

* Could raise up to 38 billion euros per year

4. Least Developed Countries' proposal -- Levy on international jet and shipping fuels.

* Could raise $28 billion per year

CLIMATE FUNDS ALREADY ON THE TABLE

1. Germany -- Is raising about 120 million euros per year in climate funds for developing countries from selling pollution permits to industry

2. Global adaptation fund -- Raised from a 2 percent levy on the global carbon market. Valued at just 83 million euros so far

3. World Bank's climate investment funds for developing nations -- pledges of over $6.1 billion from rich countries

4. Norway funds to slow deforestation -- Will provide up to 3 billion crowns ($510 million) a year to combat deforestation. Has committed 700 million ($119 million) to an Amazon fund

FACTBOX: U.N. summit seeks to end deadlock on CO2 cuts
Reuters 18 Sep 09;

(Reuters) - World leaders will meet at U.N. headquarters in New York on September 22 to try to break deadlock over a new U.N. climate pact, including how to share out curbs on greenhouse gas emissions between rich and poor.

Offers for emissions cuts by industrialized nations, many of them hit by recession, are far short of demands by poorer nations such as China and India. That standoff is a threat to a U.N. climate deal due in Copenhagen in December.

Developing nations say the rich have caused global warming by burning fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution and need to make far deeper cuts than the total offered so far, averaging between 11 and 15 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Following is an outline of offers and demands for greenhouse gas cuts ahead of the meeting:

* DEVELOPED NATIONS' OFFERS

(percentage cut in greenhouse gas emissions

from 1990 levels by 2020)

Australia -3 to -23

Belarus -5 to -10

Canada -3

European Union -20 to -30

Iceland -15

Japan -25

Liechtenstein -20 to -30

Monaco -20

New Zealand -10 to -20

Norway -30

Russia -10 to -15

Switzerland -20 to -30

Ukraine -20

United States 0

TOTAL -11 to -15

(NOTE: U.S. offer based on President Barack Obama's goal of returning U.S. emissions to 1990 levels by 2020)

* U.N. CLIMATE PANEL FINDINGS

The U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), drawing on work by 2,500 experts, has indicated that developed nations would have to cut emissions by between 25 and 40 percent by 2020 below 1990 levels to avoid the worst of climate change.

* DEVELOPING NATIONS' DEMANDS

China, India and many major developing nations say that the industrialized countries should cut by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, arguing that signs of global warming have worsened since the last IPCC report in 2007.

Least Developed Countries and the Alliance of Small Island States, totaling about 80 nations among the most vulnerable to climate change, say that the rich should cut by at least 45 percent below 1990 by 2020.

* CURBS FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS
The IPCC said that developing nations emissions should show a "substantial deviation" below projected rises in emissions by 2020. The European Union says this means a curb of 15-30 percent below business as usual.

Developing nations have agreed to take "nationally appropriate mitigation actions" to curb emissions but say that their priority is on ending poverty. Developing nations say that the rich have to lead, and provide billions of dollars in extra aid to the poor, if they want the poor to act.

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Best of our wild blogs: 18 Sep 09

Free Talk! Walk on the Wild Side: Marine Conservation in Singapore from Pulau Hantu

Fish haven at Tanah Merah
from wonderful creation and singapore nature and wild shores of singapore with camoufishes and crusties

Seeking Seahorses at Tanah Merah
from wild shores of singapore

Roosting of Savanna Nightjar
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Bee-eater hybrid 2
from Bird Ecology Study Group

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Vietnam seeks temporary ban on sand exports

Straits Times 18 Sep 09;

HO CHI MINH CITY: Vietnam's Construction Ministry has asked Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to temporarily ban sand exports from November - a move that will affect Singapore, Vietnam's biggest customer.

The ministry said the move is to ensure domestic supply and protect the environment from unrestrained production.

'We should halt sand exports until all provinces can provide specific information on reserves, exploitation capacity and plans to meet demand,' Mr Le Van Toi, head of the ministry's Department for Construction Materials, said on Wednesday. He estimated that it might take several months for local governments to submit these reports.

Vietnam shipped nearly nine million cubic m of sand in the first eight months of the year from 1.3 million cubic m last year, Mr Toi said, citing figures from the Can Tho Customs Department, which handles most of Vietnam's sand exports.

Singapore is Vietnam's biggest buyer so far this year.

In May, Cambodia abruptly banned sand exports, citing the detrimental effect of sand dredging on its rivers and marine areas. The move mirrored Indonesia's 2007 overnight ban on sand exports, which caused a 'sand crisis' in Singapore given its heavy reliance on sand for construction and land reclamation.

Singapore's building industry has been working since to diversify its sand supplies. It has also relaxed rules to allow quarry dust to be used as a sand substitute.

Vietnam's sand exports surged from May as demand increased following Cambodia's ban on sand shipments.

Unplanned dredging can cause landslides and riverbank collapses along the Mekong River in Vietnam's southern region, which provides the bulk of sand for export, Mr Toi said.

Vietnam expects domestic demand to reach as much as 100 million cubic m next year, 140 million cubic m by 2015 and 197 million cubic m by 2020, he said, citing ministry forecasts. Vietnam used 86 million cubic m of sand last year, according the ministry's data.

BLOOMBERG

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Singapore well placed to be carbon trading centre

It can kick-start creation of regional carbon credit registries and formulate yardsticks
Catherin Wong Mei Ling, Business Times 18 Sep 09;

CARBON markets are here to stay and are likely to grow post-Kyoto 2012. In the run- up to December's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, pundits expect the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to continue to play a big role in the transition to the new low-carbon economy.

This was one of the projections made by Bindu Lohani, vice-president (finance and administration) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at a seminar organised by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies earlier this month.

While China and India are steaming ahead and establishing a foothold in the rapidly expanding carbon market, South-east Asia's response has been laggard at best.

With 84 per cent of the primary CDM market share, China is rapidly developing its financial infrastructure to meet future demand. The Tianjing exchange announced recently its plans to launch China's first carbon market in 6-12 months' time, and has already started recruiting members for a cap-and-trade scheme.

The Financial Times also reported that half a dozen climate exchanges have been set up in China over the past year alone. The Beijing exchange is collaborating with Paris-based Bluenext to offer credits generated by Chinese renewable energy projects to potential European investors.

India's banks have also moved in on the carbon market. Banks like ICICI, the Industrial Development Bank of India Ltd (IDBI) and State Bank of India (SBI) have tie- ups with a host of local companies and international players like International Finance Corp (the private-sector arm of the World Bank) and Germany-based KfW Bankengruppe.

Vulnerable region

Since carbon trading in India took off in 2005, its companies have earned about US$500 million from carbon-credit sales and netted about 43 per cent of carbon credits issued so far by the CDM executive board.

South-east Asia, however, seems to have been bypassed in the midst of these developments despite the imperatives for the region to step up to a low-carbon economy. The region is one of the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, according to the 2009 ADB regional review on 'The Economics of Climate Change in South-east Asia'.

The region is projected to lose 6.7 per cent of combined gross domestic product (GDP) each year by 2100 if nothing is done to curb global warming. The US, the world's second largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter, stands to lose only half of that (3.6 per cent of GDP) by the same year at status quo.

Nonetheless, the lack of activity also represents untapped opportunity, and Dr Lohani thinks Singapore is well placed to lead carbon trading in the region.

Singapore has the most mature capital markets in South-east Asia and can position itself to be the regional trading platform for carbon credits. In addition to its well established credentials in financial management and good governance, the city already has both the physical and the human capital to establish itself as the carbon trading centre of Southeast Asia.

Singapore is the fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre in the world and is home to many of the world's financial bigwigs. The trust and corruption-free factor has been a key competitive advantage of Singapore, not least due to the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) reputation for its stringent supervision of banking and financial activities.

The hardware is already in place for Singapore to tap on the carbon markets. What it needs now is the software in terms of a clear policy and regulatory framework for carbon trading, domestically and regionally. There is already talk of how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) can play a role in facilitating a regional carbon market.

Maturing markets

With Singapore's experience in financial management, it can kick- start the creation of regional carbon credit registries and formulate yardsticks for clean energy project performance and best practices.

Sceptics say that there is little business incentive for a regional exchange because there are no buyers and only sellers. There are also few liquidity providers in the market for such investments.

But this is slowly changing. The carbon markets are gradually maturing, and the US could potentially come on board; a US House of Representatives committee voted in favour of a draft climate bill in May which, if passed into law, could lead to a US$3 trillion carbon market by 2020.

The global carbon market was worth US$126 billion in 2008 - twice as much compared to the preceding year despite the financial turmoil, indicating its resilience.

There is also a growing pool of international funds willing to provide grants and cheap loans for climate change projects in developing countries. Japan set up the Cool Earth Partnership in 2008, worth US$10 billion to fund reduction of GHG emissions in developing countries. The ADB's Carbon Market Initiative has two funds targeted to be worth more than US$300 million. Europe and the US have also set up a host of similar investment funds.

Granted, carbon markets are still relatively volatile due to lingering misconceptions about environmental investments. But it is clear that the social and political tides are shifting in this direction.

It is not too late for South-east Asia to play catch-up in the carbon markets. But if the region does not act soon, it may be too late when it finds its islands consumed by the sea, its forests depleted, and a growing population of displaced and jobless citizenry.

The writer is a research associate at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

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Expect the worst of the haze - unless Asean acts

Today Online 18 Sep 09;

HE HAS said it before, and he repeated his warning: This year's hazy conditions could reach the unhealthy levels seen in 1997 and 2006, said Minister for Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim.

Yesterday, the 24-hour PSI reading registered 54 - the third day straight it has been in the moderate air-quality range.

At the peak of the haze problem in past years, PSI readings in Singapore soared above 100, in the unhealthy range.

Dr Yaacob said the drier weather caused by stronger El Nino conditions will exacerbate the haze situation caused by forest fires in Indonesia. He appealed to his regional counterparts to take action against slash-and-burn activities.

"I hope that my colleagues in Indonesia and the rest of the Asean countries will do their part, because if they can demonstrate there's a willingness and political will to tackle this problem, that will also improve the image of the region," he told reporters at a Chinatown event.

Singapore will play host to a Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution forum next month. 938LIVe

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Haze chokes residents, disrupts travellers in the Riaus

Jon Afrizal and Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 17 Sep 09;

The haze covering Jambi city, Jambi province and several areas in Riau over the past few days has threatened people's health and might disrupt travellers heading home for Idul Fitri.

The level of air pollution has reached 98 parts per million (ppm) in Jambi city, based on the Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU).

"Such a level indicates the air in Jambi city is unhealthy," said Arfan, the head of Jambi's Environmental Agency (BLHD) on Wednesday.

Data from the Jambi BLHD showed the ISPU level over the past few days in Jambi city ranged between 77 ppm and 98 ppm.

The data was based on an ISPU detection device the Singaporean government provided. Jambi has three such devices, one in Jambi city and two others in Muarojambi regency.

Arfan said pollution levels of between 100-199 ISPU were categorized as harmful, so Jambi city's ISPU level of 98 ppm on Wednesday was considered unhealthy and could trigger illnesses.

He added that an ISPU level of between 200 and 299 ppm was very harmful and classified as dangerous above 300 ppm.

"I urge residents to be more alert because this can be dangerous *for them*. They should wear masks when they are outdoors," he said.

Most people were unaware the air was polluted because they were used to the haze in Jambi, he said, so they no longer consider it dangerous despite the current harmful level.

The haze covering Jambi does not seem to be correlated to the number of hotspots.

Satellite images show hotspots located in two points in the Muarojambi regency, a resident's farm and an oil palm plantation.

Jambi Forestry Office head Budidaya confirmed the thick haze covering Jambi originated from neighboring provinces, and that in the past week, hundreds of hotspots had been detected in Sumatra, mostly in South Sumatra and Lampung.

The Jambi Meteorological and Geophysics Agency (BMG) warned about wind coming from the south of Jambi, or from Lampung and South Sumatra.

Sahlian Lubis, Jambi City Health Office's acting head, urged residents in Jambi city to watch out for air pollution in the city and avoid outdoor activities for the time being.

"If they don't have any important business to do *outside*, they shouldn't leave the house until the situation in Jambi city returns to normal," he said.

He added the worst time of the day for air pollution was at dawn, in the afternoon and at night.

Although there have not been any forest fires in the past two weeks, haze has nevertheless returned to blanket several areas in the Riau province recently.

Riau Governor Rusli Zainal said on Wednesday that the haze might be a nuisance to Idul Fitri travellers.

"I asked all related agencies to take measures to address the haze as it could harm travellers and reduce visibility while driving," Rusli said.

He urged residents to stop clearing land by burning forests, and police to take stern action against land owners who cleared their land by burning it.

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Ignorance destroys Vietnam's coral reefs

VietnamNews 16 Sep 09;

HA NOI — Many people understand that Viet Nam’s coral reefs are a precious natural resource, yet few are aware that in approximately 20 years the reefs may be ruined by human exploitation, according to Dr Nguyen Huy Yet of the Viet Nam National Museum of Nature.

These "tropical rain forests of the sea" are home to a variety of fish and other saltwater creatures and have been known to cure a myriad of different diseases.

However, according to a recent survey carried out by the Viet Nam Institute of Oceanography, the coral reefs now might be facing their biggest-threat to date. People continue to trespass into nature preserve areas like Hon Mun (Khanh Hoa), Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Con Co Island (Quang Tri), Cham Island (Quang Nam) and Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh) to steal pieces of coral. They then use the coral to make handicrafts to sell to tourists and merchants in HCM City.

The situation is most alarming in Van Ninh sea (Khanh Hoa) where hundreds of people are using mines to catch fish, which inflict massive damage to the reefs. Other factors that lead to the destruction of coral include sea contamination, over fishing and mangrove forest destruction, said Yet.

The Government has recently been paying more attention to this issue. Their solutions to the problem, which include an awareness campaign and restricting access to certain areas, have yet to be effective, said Yet.

He is saddened by the destruction of the coral because Viet Nam’s tropical climate is suitable to develop the rare natural resource.

In order to protect the coral, Yet suggests preserving endangered areas that would be monitored by security forces.

He also recommends creating favourable conditions in order to grow new coral, which could be done on slabs of concrete, outdated fishing boats or other solid material.

Most importantly, Yet recommends creating enforceable and detailed laws on coral protection. — VNS

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Success of Palm Oil Brings Plantations Under Pressure to Preserve Habitats

Liz Gooch, The New York Times 17 Sep 09;

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Idyllic scenes of palm trees swaying over sandy beaches have long decorated brochures meant to lure tourists to Indonesia and Malaysia. But few visitors see the giant palm plantations away from the shore.

Each year, the plantations produce millions of tons of palm oil, which has soared in popularity since the 1970s and is now found in foods like margarine, potato chips and chocolate, as well as in soap, cosmetics and biofuel.

With these two Southeast Asian nations leading the way, the industry churned out about 43 million tons last year, making palm oil the world’s most produced vegetable oil, according to estimates by Oil World, an independent industry analyst group.

But the palm plantations are in the cross hairs of consumer groups and corporations in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States. Echoing the longstanding concerns of environmental groups, they say palm oil producers continue to fell large tracts of forest to make way for plantations, destroying habitat for endangered species like the orangutan.

In Malaysia, the land devoted to palm oil plantations increased to 4.48 million hectares in 2008, or 11.1 million acres, from about 641,700 hectares in 1975, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board. Reports suggest that Indonesia has about 6 million hectares (14.8 million acres) under cultivation.

Last year, the British cosmetics company Lush introduced a soap made from a base that is free of palm oil. Last month, Cadbury New Zealand bowed to consumer pressure and reversed a decision to replace cocoa butter with palm oil in its chocolates. And the Melbourne Zoo in Australia began a campaign to have palm oil clearly labeled on food products to ensure that consumers know what they are buying.

The increasingly vocal protests are not what the industry expected five years after it began developing a certification system for producing environmentally sustainable palm oil. In 2004, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil was formed, representing palm oil producers; consumer goods manufacturers including Unilever, Johnson & Johnson and Kellogg; environmental groups like the World Wide Fund for Nature; and social and development organizations.

Membership in the roundtable is voluntary, and producers must meet its criteria before their oil can be certified as sustainable. The group’s secretary general, Vengeta Rao, said new plantations could not be established on primary rain forest or lands with “high conservation values” like those with rare or endangered species.

“If the land was cleared before November 2005, irrespective of who logged it or cleared it, any plantation on that land can be certified to produce sustainable oil, provided there are no land conflicts over that land and the company has not broken any laws in establishing the plantation,” said Dr. Rao, a plant biologist. “But if planting was done after November 2005, it can only be certified if the company has done a conservation study and found that there are no conservation values present.”

The roundtable requires plantations to develop plans to protect rare or endangered species on their land and to assess whether there are cultural relics that need to be preserved.

About 700,000 tons of certified oil has been produced since the first company, United Plantations in Malaysia, was certified a year ago. Dr. Rao said that by 2015, about 10 million to 15 million tons could be certified, or perhaps a quarter of the total.

Once a company registers a plantation or mill for certification, it must create a timetable to convert all of its operations. Consumer goods manufacturers joining must also devise a timetable for switching to certified oil.

Dr. Rao said the roundtable did not dictate timetables to its members “because circumstances vary between producers.”

Some critics say the standards are not stringent enough to prevent further deforestation.

“The expansion of plantations has pushed the orangutan to the brink of extinction, with some experts predicting total extinction within 10 years,” said James Turner, a spokesman for the British branch of Greenpeace. A United Nations report in 2007 found that “the rapid increase of plantation acreage is one of the greatest threats to orangutans.”

Greenpeace says the industry also contributes to carbon emissions when producers establish plantations on peat bogs, which store carbon. Draining and burning peat bogs to establish plantations releases greenhouse gases.

Dr. Rao said although the roundtable’s guidelines did not allow extensive planting on peat bogs, limited planting was permitted in some circumstances, depending on factors like the type of peat and its depth. However, he said, this was being reviewed in the case of new plantings.

Such concerns prompted Lush to formulate its new soap, which went on sale last month in the United States. The company says it wants to eliminate palm oil from its products completely but is struggling to find suppliers who can provide such materials for ingredients other than the soap base.

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'Terrible idea' to bring in giant catfish into Kenyir lake, Malaysia

Sean Augustin, New Straits Times 18 Sep 09;

KUALA TERENGGANU: Several quarters are asking the state government to scrap the idea of importing the Mekong Giant Catfish into the Kenyir lake as part of its plans to replenish the fish population.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Faculty of Agro Technology lecturer Prof Mohd Azmi Ambak said Kenyir lake was famous for its rich variety of kelah fish and importing a foreign species would mean running a risk of it out-competing the local species for food, or the catfish itself could eat the other species.

"I think it's a terrible idea. We don't know if the catfish is an invasive species.

"I would advise the state government against implementing this idea. We need to preserve the local diversity."


Azmi said there were about 10 to 20 different varieties of kelah, some of which are endemic to Terengganu.

On Wednesday, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said had revealed the plan in view of the upcoming Kenyir Lake Cup fishing competition next month.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia president S.M. Mohd Idris Salam has also slammed the idea, adding the organisation had always been concerned that alien fish species were being dumped into the waterways which threaten the lives of indigenous fish species.

Factors like environmental pollution and destruction of natural habitats as well as ecosystems have made it easier for non-native species brought to Malaysia to establish itself.

"They become invasive as many of them are "colonising" species that benefit from the radically reduced competition that follows habitat degradation or destruction.

"We really hope the state government would reconsider," he said.

The Malaysian Nature Society echoed the same sentiment, adding any initiative to replenish lakes and rivers should focus on conserving and restoring the population of native fish species rather than importing alien fish species.

Its president, Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor, said based on the recent Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005), (invasive) alien species has been identified as one of the keys to biodiversity extinction.

"Has the Terengganu state government conducted a thorough study to identify potential impact of the introduction of the Mekong Giant Catfish into Kenyir Lake and its native fish fauna?


"Efforts in Indochina and Thailand, where the species originate from, have also shown that the species does not breed well in enclosed water bodies such as ponds and lakes.

"This would mean that the state government would have to keep spending money to restock the lake," he said, adding that while the society lauds the efforts to replenish fish population in Kenyir Lake, it strongly urged the state government to rethink this idea and to focus on native fish species to further help conserve freshwater biodiversity.

The Mekong Giant Catfish or the Pangasianodon gigas, which is endemic to the lower half of the Mekong River is believed to be able to grow up to three metres in length and reach a mass of 150 to 200kg in only six years.

Vineyard on island in Tasik Kenyir
Sean Augustin, New Straits Times 23 Sep 09;

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government will establish a vineyard on one of the islands in Tasik Kenyir by the end of the year.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said this would be one of the attractions for the island-hopping programme, which is scheduled to start next year. The grapes will include White Malaga, Black Opal and Shiraz.

The state government will appoint an agency to manage the vineyard.

"It can be done and I am confident it will be a success. After all, I grow grapes in my backyard. There should not be any problem.


"The fruit is highly adaptable and if it can be grown in Thailand, Perlis and Negri Sembilan, why not here?" he asked, adding that the vineyard would start yielding fruit by 2011.

He was speaking after hosting a Hari Raya open house for over 2,000 Terengganu citizens working or studying outside the state at the Islamic Civilisation park here yesterday.

Ahmad said the government had done its homework on plans to bring the Mekong giant catfish to Tasik Kenyir as an attraction for the Kenyir Cup, a fishing competition, next month.

When it was announced last week, several quarters including the Malaysian Nature Society called for the plan to be scrapped, saying it was not viable.

The fish has been listed as critically endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List for fish.

"It is not an invasive species and it only eats fresh water weeds and not other fishes.

"In addition, the Kenyir Cup is a catch and release competition, so we need not worry about its status as a critically endangered species."

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Regent blames Sumatra flash floods on illegal logging

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post 18 Sep 09;

Rampant illegal logging has been blamed for recent flash floods that hit six villages in North Sumatra, killing dozens of people, Regent Amru Daulay has said.

Amru blamed deforestation after inspecting the baron area that was once a forest not far from the disaster areas, adding the area was previously part of a forest concession area (HPH).

He said the HPH license had been revoked 10 years ago and since then illegal logging had been rampant because of a lack of supervision from authorized agencies.

"The flash floods in Muara Batang Gadis district, Mandailing Natal regency, are attributed to illegal logging, which has prevailed unabated. We have no authority to supervise logging because it is the responsibility of the Forestry Ministry," Amru told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday evening.

Amru said his relief workers were facing difficulties in reaching the affected areas because their limited facilities made the rough terrain difficult to access.

"We face difficulties reaching the area due to rough terrain. We have only one rubber dinghy and can not reach the location because there are many logs clogging the river," Amru said.

Amru added that due to the setback, relief workers had only distributed part of the relief aid available, the rest of which is stranded at a border area located about 7.5 hours away from the affected area.

"We were informed by a council member living in the disaster area that many evacuees are going hungry because of food shortages. Hopefully, the team bringing food aid will arrive tonight," Amru said.

Amru said his office had yet to ascertain the number of dead and missing persons as communication lines have been cut.

However, based on reports from the local council member, the bodies of eight victims have already been recovered.

At least 15 people were reportedly killed and 25 others missing in the flash floods, which happened before dawn on Tuesday.

The six villages swept by the floods were Rantau Panjang, Lubuk Kapodang I and II, Tagilang, Saleh Baru and Manuncang.

North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin said his office had sent a joint team made up of members from the health and social service offices to assist survivors. He added he had also instructed Regent Amru to immediately take the necessary steps to help survivors. Syamsul said around 2,200 of the affected families had evacuated.

"We must be responsible for the survivors. They need relief aid immediately, especially because they will celebrate Idul Fitri in a short while," said Syamsul, adding relief aid includes rubber dinghies, instant noodles and clothing.

Syamsul said the provincial administration had also 50 tons of rice stored at the provincial logistics agency, which will be made available to the survivors as soon as possible.

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Deforestation threatens Acehenese tradition

Hotli Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post 18 Sep 09;

Widespread deforestation in the Islamic province of Aceh is threatening some of its rich traditions, including one ancient custom practiced to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan.

Muslims in Aceh have been preparing Ie Bu Peudah porridge during Ramadan for generations as a way of bringing the community together during the fasting month, but a lack of spices as a result of deforestation is threaten the annual tradition.

"Long ago, almost all the villages in Aceh prepared the Ie Bu peudah porridge, but now less and less people carry out this traditional custom," Sukran, a resident of the Bung Bak Jok village in the Aceh Besar regency, said recently.

"Every member of the community is usually involved in the process of cooking the porridge, but due to the large number of younger people in the village, the elderly are normally not involved," said Sukran.

The village head of Bung Bak Jok, Abdul Muthalib, said the tradition of preparing the porridge and sitting down together to eat is unique to Ramadan. With everybody taking part in the cooking process, and coming together to break the fast in the evening, ties between the community are strengthened.

"Every member of the community is involved in some aspect of the process, from collecting the herbs and spices, to preparing the ingredients, to eating the final product," said Muthalib.

The porridge is handed out to villagers a few moments before the fast is broken, and children come with containers to take some porridge home to those who cannot make it themselves.

"Traditionally, the porridge would have been eaten to break the fast together at the village mosque. But now people have their own personal activities, so they take the porridge back to their own homes," Muthalib said.

Ie Bu Peudah literally means hot or spicy porridge. Its basic ingredients are rice and an assortment of spices believed to be capable of curing illnesses and assisting those carrying out their fasts.

"One of our beliefs from the days of our ancestors that breaking the fast with the porridge can revive the lost stamina during the fast," Sukran told The Jakarta Post.

The vast array of spices necessary for the recipe are sourced from around the forest areas around the villages.

Long before the arrival of Ramadan, villagers seek out the herbs and spices required for the recipe and allocate a particular plot in the local rice fields for the grain required for the porridge.

"Our village has a special rice field set aside so there is not shortage of rice for the porridge Ramadan. That way residents do not have to pay for rice during the holy month," said Muthalib.

However, Muthalib said he was concerned about the tradition surviving in the future, as several key spices required for the dish have become scarce in the region due to widespread logging, deforestation and unethical clearing practices.

Muthalib said his parents recipe for the porridge, which has been handed down for generations, required 44 varieties of plants to make a truly authentic Ie Bu Peudah porridge.

Of these herbs, today only a handful can be found in the jungle areas around the village. Muthalib said the plants were scarce or even extinct as a result of deforestation and the conversion of forest land for commercial purposes.

"Each plant has a specific purpose. They are believed to contain ingredients to cure various illnesses. Each plant has a different function for curing disease," said Muthalib.

Although no comprehensive studies on the properties of these herbs has been carried out, Muthalib said he had no doubts that the porridge was greatly beneficial to his health. If he misses the traditional meal in the evening, he said, something feels amiss.

"We will still have the Ie Bu Peudah porridge every Ramadan, but it will never be the same as that prepared by our ancestors long ago," said Muthalib.

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