U.N. climate talks more advanced second time around, says former head

Ben Garside PlanetArk 9 Jul 14;

U.N. climate negotiations have made greater progress towards agreeing a 2015 deal to bind all nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions than the lead-up to the previous attempt in 2009, former U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer told Reuters.

Envoys from almost 200 nations are aiming to agree this year on the main elements of a text to be signed by their leaders in Paris in late 2015 to tackle the emissions from 2020 that U.N.-backed scientists say are causing more severe droughts, flooding and a rise in sea levels.

"The process is definitely further advanced a year before Paris than it was a year before Copenhagen (in 2009)," de Boer said in an interview in London on Tuesday.

The Dutch diplomat was the public face of the negotiations from 2006 but stepped down shortly after the Copenhagen talks almost broke down despite the attendance of more than 130 world leaders late into the final night.

Late on Monday, the U.N. published several documents on its website meant to help guide negotiators towards agreed wording for the Paris deal, including on what countries need to include in their individual contributions and how richer nations will make good on a commitment to mobilise $100 billion a year to help poorer states.

"There is now greater clarity on the way forward on many of the substantive areas," one document said.

For de Boer, who has led the Global Green Growth Institute advising developing countries since March, December's summit in Lima, Peru, will indicate whether the world will be able to come together on the issue.

LITMUS TEST

"For me, Peru will be the litmus test. Having a clear negotiating text on the table ... will give everyone a much clearer understanding of what the definition of success or failure is.

"One of the major handicaps of Copenhagen was that so many people had so many different definitions of success," he said, adding that in the lead-up to the conference it was clear that a fully-fledged treaty would not be struck.

"Small island states and the European Union were negotiating towards an international legally binding treaty that would contain obligations for pretty much everyone... whereas others, notably the United States and China, were just looking for a political agreement."

Ahead of Paris, nations have agreed that all countries should contribute, but it remains unclear what legal weight any pact will carry, or which should make the strictest contributions.

De Boer said a meaningful Paris deal would require every country to convert their contributions into national law, both to ensure they are met and to help companies raise investment in cleaner technologies.

Rather than the aim of some in Copenhagen to lock in adequate targets from the outset, countries will need to review their initial contributions, including cash from richer nations, every three years or so.

This would ensure they are in line with their previously agreed goal of limiting global temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

"I do not expect Paris in one fell swoop to take us to 2C. More steps will be needed," he said.

The U.N. negotiations resume for a week in October in Bonn, Germany before the two-week Lima session in December.

(here)

(Editing by Louise Heavens)

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Zero carbon and economic growth can go together, UN study says

The top 15 emitter countries could make deep cuts to emissions while also tripling economic output, according to the study
Oliver Milman theguardian.com 10 Jul 14;

Australia could slash its carbon emissions to zero by 2050 and still experience average economic growth of 2.4% a year, according to a UN-backed study.

The Deep Decarbonisation Pathways report, released by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, analysed the 15 countries that account for 70% of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, which includes Australia, the US, Britain and China.

According to the report, compiled by academics from each of the countries, the 15 countries could make deep cuts to emissions while also tripling economic output.

These cuts are needed, the report notes, if the world is to avoid the “catastrophic” impact of failing to keep to the internationally agreed limit of 2C global warming on pre-industrial levels. The study concedes the world is on track to overshoot this.

The study notes that Australia has high per-capita emissions, with coal-fired power providing 69% of electricity generation, higher than most other industrialised countries.

Despite this dependence on fossil fuels, “fundamental changes” to Australia’s energy system could allow it to cut its emissions to zero by 2050 while maintaining economic growth of 2.4% a year, on average. The report points out that Australia’s greenhouse gases have remained stable over the past 20 years, while the size of the economy has doubled.

A further UN report in September will set out the monetary cost of a rapid increase in renewables to cut emissions to zero.

But the newly released study plots a path that involves phasing out coal use almost entirely, shifting electricity generation to renewable sources such as solar and wind, and powering vehicles and buildings with clean electricity rather than fossil fuels such as oil and petrol.

Industrial and farming processes that can’t use such clean technology would be offset by large-scale storage of carbon in soils and trees.

Anna Skarbek, the executive director of ClimateWorks, which provided input to the report alongside the Australian National University, told Guardian Australia that emissions cuts and economic growth could go hand-in-hand.

“Australia has a higher emissions intensity than other countries, but it also has a huge natural endowment in renewable energy sources,” she said.

“Unlike many other countries, we are blessed with multiple renewable sources, as well as a much larger capacity for carbon forestry and biofuels. We can change our focus in energy systems rather than change economic growth. Australia has made successful changes in the past, from gold to wool to wheat, even in the rise of the internet in the past decade.”

Skarbek said the transition would need to start soon to help avoid breaching the 2C limit, a temperature guardrail that has bipartisan support in Australian politics.

“The science is clear – we know that the carbon budget is being rapidly used up and will be near zero by the middle of the century,” she said. “If we plan now we can achieve the transition in this time.”

Frank Jotzo, director of the ANU centre for climate economics and policy, said: “Decarbonisation would mean that the energy system and some aspects of land management look quite different from what they would under a high-carbon scenario.

“But for every declining technology there are new opportunities arising, and most of the economy would simply motor on. Cleaning up the world’s energy system does not stand in the way of economic prosperity.”

The Australian government has a minimum target of a 5% cut in carbon emissions by 2020, based on 2000 levels. Governments will gather in Paris next year to thrash out their emission cut commitments beyond 2020.

A spokesman for the environment minister, Greg Hunt, said: “The government will review Australia’s 2020 target in 2015, considering further action and targets on the basis of comparable real global action.”

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Best of our wild blogs: 9 Jul 14

Kampong Lorong Buangkok
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Malaysia: Sea Reclamation Project Destroys Marine Life In Straits Of Johor - MNS

Bernama 7 Jul 14;

JOHOR BAHARU, July 7 (Bernama) -- The reclamation project in the Straits of Johor can destroy environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) rich in marine life, said the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

Its Johor chairman Vincent Chow said the sea reclamation project is close to two ESA known among researchers as Tanjung Adang Shoal and Merambong Shoal.

"Both sensitive marine habitats are not only rich in seagrass but also fish, shrimp, clam, sea horse, crab, plankton and other marine microorganisms. Being shallow, the areas attract dugongs which come to find food," he told Bernama, here today.

Chow, who had conducted a detailed study of the areas expressed concern over the future of dugongs and the marine ecosystem in the Straits of Johor due to the "Forest City" sea reclamation project.

"The Straits of Johor is one of the main grazing areas for dugongs as it is rich in seagrass," he said, adding there are nine types of seagrass.

A study found that 15 to 20 percent of Merambong Shoal area had already fallen victim to the sea reclamation project.

The reclamation project has also changed the water current that carry marine microorganisms which are food for marine life in the ESA.

"Without marine microorganisms important to the survival of marine life in both areas, marine life will slowly become extinct in the Strais of Johor."

The extinction of marine life and marine microorganisms would affect the lives of fishermen due to depleting catch which make fishing uneconomical.

"Finally, the fishermen no longer have fish, crabs, clams and shrimp to catch."

Chow said MNS was not against development as it provides economic opportunities but urged the state government to discuss with stakeholders to preserve the natural heritage.

"We can establish a database of environmentally sensitive areas so that the party developing the area will know how to preserve the environment."

He feared that the state government and the project developer did not have the knowledge on environmentally sensitive areas in Johor.

"Johor still has a lot of land and does not need to reclaim the sea near areas recognised as a natural heritage."

-- BERNAMA

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Malaysia: Bahoi - A marine reserve that works

TAN CHENG LI The Star 7 Jul 14;

Bahoi is proof that small, community-managed marine sanctuaries have a better chance of success.

THE people of Bahoi, a village that hugs the coastline of north Sulawesi in Indonesia, live off the richness of the sea. They mostly fish for a living, so a healthy ocean is essential if they are to support themselves.

To protect their livelihood and ensure that the sea will continue to provide for future generations, the people of the village that is a two-hour drive from the provincial capital city of Manado, have set up an 8ha marine protected area (MPA) with the help of local conservation groups Yapeka and Celebio.

No fishing or collecting of marine animals is allowed in this reserve off the coastline, and the effect of this protection is obvious during an afternoon of snorkelling: within the sanctuary is a thriving reef filled with myriad species of hard and soft corals, fish and other invertebrates. In the adjacent area that is unprotected, the reef is degraded.

Yapeka started working with Bahoi villagers to create the MPA in 2008. Its director of coasts and research, Akbar Digdo, says the project ended last year but was renewed after support came in from French conservation group GoodPlanet Foundation and watchmaker Omega.

The three-year collaboration under the foundation’s “Time for the Planet” project kicked off last December with these aims: to strengthen the resilience of the marine biodiversity; preserve local economic activities; and empower the local community in conservation efforts. Omega supports the project financially through proceeds from the sale of the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M GoodPlanet GMT wristwatches.

Akbar says the creation of the marine sanctuary is just one aspect of the project. “The plan is to expand the protected areas to cover mangroves and seagrass beds as there is connectivity between the three ecosystems ... the health of one will affect the others,” explains the marine biologist.

Cédric Javanaud, ocean programme manager at GoodPlanet, says the three habitats are threatened by over-exploitation of resources through activities such as over-fishing, fish bombing and cyanide fisheries which destroy coral reefs, as well as felling of mangroves for aquaculture, firewood and building materials. Sedimentation originating from coastal erosion has also smothered seagrass meadows.

Sulawesi sits within the Coral Triangle, the 100,000sq km of sea bordered by Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, that possesses 34% of the world’s coral reefs, and is the underwater equivalent of the Amazon, home to more marine species than anywhere else on Earth.

“North Sulawesi possesses one of the richest ecosystems on the planet but 40% of corals in the region has been destroyed, 40% of the mangroves has disappeared. By protecting these important ecosystems, we can improve their function as a breeding ground for fish and as a ‘fish bank’ which supplies local fisheries,” says Javanaud.

Important habitats

From my boat, I saw mangrove seedlings growing in neat rows in the clear water. Measuring about half a metre high, they had been planted by the villagers some six months earlier. Bahoi villagers have in the past, cleared the mangroves to build aquaculture ponds and cut the trees for firewood and timber. Now, they understand that they have to nurture these trees if they are to enjoy the various services provided by them.

These coastal forests not only harbour abundant fauna, they are nurseries for marine life, offer shoreline protection and provide materials such as timber, tannin and fibre. And like terrestrial forests, mangrove forests have the ability to store carbon; the capacity amounts to some six tonnes of carbon per hectare per year, according to Javanaud.

Seagrass beds, underwater meadows that can be found between mangrove forests and coral reefs, are an equally important and diverse marine ecosystem. They are reserves of biodiversity, harbouring shellfish, sea worms, sea urchins, starfish, crabs and also particularly vulnerable species like seahorses.

Species like dugongs, manatees and turtles feed on marine grasses. Seagrass beds also provide nursery grounds for many species. They are deemed as “ecosystem engineers” – their roots stabilise the seabed, protecting it from erosion, and they can absorb pollutants, thus preventing pollution in coastal areas.

Seagrass beds are also capable of storing carbon – some 80,000 tonnes per sq km – mostly in the soil around the blades of grass.

Coral reefs are oases of life. Along with equatorial forests, they comprise the richest and most complex ecosystems on the planet. Although they occupy less than 0.1% of the aquatic environment, they are home to between one and nine million species. Every fishery depends on coral reefs.

Javanaud says by preserving mangrove forests, seagrass beds and coral reefs, fish stocks in the area will be secured.

“These three are the most emblematic ecosystems of the ocean. They are the backbone of the abundant life in this region’s seas. This biodiversity is important not just for the ocean but also for the people who depend on these natural resources. These three ecosystems are very connected. A healthy ecosystem will guarantee the health of the others.”

Apart from the project in Bahoi, GoodPlanet and Omega are also supporting another scheme at Tanakeke Island in south Sulawesi. Following the aquaculture boom of the 1990s, the island lost over 70% of its mangroves.

Today, 80% of the ponds have been abandoned, threatening local subsistence activities. There, GoodPlanet is supporting local NGOs in a project to convert 100ha of abandoned aquaculture ponds into mangroves. To diversify their livelihood, the villagers are also encouraged to farm seaweed.

Model MPA

To ensure that the project in Bahoi succeeds, a “bottom up” approach is taken – the conservation effort is led by the community rather than NGOs and the government forcing their plans on the people.

“We make sure that the villagers are involved,” explains Akbar. “There are discussions and they decide how big an area to protect and where. They also do the monitoring. When they see intruders in the MPA, they ask them to leave.”

The result of the self-enforcement is a decline in destructive fishing methods such as those which rely on explosives and cyanide. In a survey among 25 villagers in 2010, 14 attested to higher fish catch compared with five years earlier, and 15 said the variety of fish had increased.

Akbar says the villagers will support the conservation effort if they can see the benefits for themselves. “The villagers say there are more fish in the sea. There was no tourism here previously but now, there are five homestays, and a dive centre run by the community.”

To reduce the felling of mangroves for firewood, the villagers are encouraged to switch to coconut shell briquettes. They were taught how to make this fuel – the shells are baked, ground into powder, then mixed with tapioca flour and cut into discs. The briquettes burn slower and longer, thereby saving fuel and avoiding smoky emissions. “We cannot just tell them to not cut the mangroves. So we proposed coconut charcoal to them as an alternative,” says Javanaud.

The Bahoi marine sanctuary is the most successful in northern Sulawesi to date due to the efforts of the NGOs. MPAs were also set up in other villages but all have collapsed due to poor support after the earlier conservation programme under the government and another NGO ended.

Akbar says the plan is to emulate the Bahoi experience in the other villages of Talise, Lihunu, Serei, Kinabuhutan and Kahuku to create a network of MPAs managed by the local communities. All in, the conservation effort will benefit a total of 9,000 villagers.

“Creating small, community-managed MPAs is more practical and viable,” says Akbar. “It is easier to protect a small area of the ocean that fronts the village, then a vast area. Yes, you want to conserve but you must also ensure daily needs are met, and no one knows how to do this better than the people themselves.”

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Homalium grandiflorum flowering once in about 20 years
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Corals at Semakau Landfill’s lagoon to be relocated to Sisters’ Island

Today Online 7 Jul 14;


Aerial view of Phase I and II of Semakau Landfill. Photo: National Environment Agency

SINGAPORE — The National Environment Agency (NEA) will be relocating more than 600 coral colonies at Semakau Landfill’s lagoon to Sisters’ Island, as it closes the existing gap at the southern tip of the lagoon to convert it into a new landfill cell.

This is part of Semakau Landfill’s Phase II development works to help meet the waste disposal needs of Singapore up to 2035 or beyond. Construction work to close the gap is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year and will be completed by the first quarter of 2015.

Calling for a tender today (July 7) for the coral relocation, the NEA said the relocation would take four months, with the first month dedicated to coral harvesting and the following three months for coral attachment at two recipient sites at Sisters’ Islands.

An independent coral reef survey of the Phase II lagoon, commissioned by the NEA and helmed by renowned marine biologist Chou Loke Ming, had recommended that 27 genera of corals be earmarked for transplantation, including several rare genera like Polyphyllia and Heliofungia. The findings were shared with the National Parks Board, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and nature groups.

The successful bidder will also need to conduct post-coral transplantation monitoring surveys, over a nine-month period, at the recipient sites to monitor the survival and health of the transplanted corals, said the NEA. The surveys will also monitor the water quality and sediment conditions at the recipient sites.

A contractor has been engaged to monitor the marine conditions and impact on the surrounding water before, during and after the construction period, added the NEA.

Said NEA Chief Executive Ronnie Tay: “The discovery of thriving coral colonies within the man-made lagoon is testament that the landfill operations have not affected the environment and marine habitats. NEA is mindful of these thriving natural habitats, and will carefully carry out the coral re-location exercise and the development works for Semakau Landfill Phase II.”

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Singapore government to have better ability to minimise climate change effects

Channel NewsAsia 7 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: The government's ability to minimise Singapore's physical vulnerabilities to climate change will be enhanced by 2016.

Inter-government agencies are expected to release long-term plans to safeguard Singapore against projected climate change effects under the Resilience Framework.

The Resilience Framework, announced in 2012, provides a holistic guide to inter-government agencies on how to assess Singapore's physical vulnerabilities to climate change.

By 2016, these agencies are expected to release long-term plans to safeguard Singapore against projected climate change effects.

It was revealed on Monday that the framework incorporates risk assessment and adaptation planning.

For example, under the framework, roads are assessed for vulnerabilities.

There could be flooding when there is extreme weather and so the roads' threshold levels against extremities will be analysed.

From there, measures could be developed to prevent or minimise the risk of climate change on roads.

It is hoped that the framework can also be applied not just to public infrastructure, but also to private sector assets.

Speaking at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Regional Outreach Event, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stressed the importance of adaptation in the face of climate change uncertainties.

He added that inaction is not a viable option for Singapore.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "Since 1965, when we gained independence, long before environmental sustainability and being green became fashionable, long before climate change became a global issue, the Singapore government very deliberately and persistently ensured that our aggressive push for economic development would be accompanied by environmental protection in making sure that we would be clean, green, safe and sustainable.

“For us, the environment and economy are not trade-offs between each other but a positive, virtuous cycle."

- CNA/xq

S’pore gears up for climate change
Exercise will study measures needed to help public infrastructure adapt to higher temperatures, rise in sea level
Neo Chai Chin Today Online 8 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE — Details on getting the Republic’s roads, drains, airport and other infrastructure ready for climate change will be firmed up from 2016, as government agencies examine how public infrastructure must adapt to higher temperatures, more intense rainfall, rise in sea level and stronger winds.

The extent of rises in sea level that roads can withstand and the type of adaptation measures needed will be studied, for example.

The exercise will take place under a resilience framework that puts climate change risks and adaptation under sharper focus than before. It will take into account findings such as those of Singapore’s second National Climate Change Study, which will project climate parameters in greater detail.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) said it had developed the framework to identify, assess and mitigate climate change risks in May, following the President’s Address at the reopening of the 12th Parliament.

The authorities learnt from countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Australia, which have similar frameworks, said spokespersons from the MEWR and Ministry of National Development yesterday.

Deciding what is adequate and effective is “not straightforward and it’s not a trivial matter”, said Minister for the Environment and Water ResourcesVivian Balakrishnan yesterday to about 260 scientists, policymakers, students and private-sector representatives at a regional outreach event organised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Singapore Government.

This is due to uncertainties in the science, economics and political process surrounding climate change, he added. Despite advances in technology, “science will have gaps, knowledge will be updated and decisions will have to be reviewed and changed as time goes on”.

The South-east Asian region is highly vulnerable and there is an urgent need to update our understanding of the climate system and its impact on future livelihoods and security, said Dr Balakrishnan.

There are also knowledge gaps for the region — studies about the impact of climate change on the monsoon season are lacking, for instance, said Professor Fredolin Tangang of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who is vice-chair of the IPCC Working Group that authored the physical science basis of its latest assessment report.

More environmental economists are also needed to calculate the costs and benefits of various scenarios, said Professor Wong Poh Poh, coordinating lead author of the chapter on coastal systems and low-lying areas as well as the only Singaporean scientist among the report’s authors.

Other experts noted the vast business opportunities that climate change offers.

Chemistry and material sciences can make a big difference in solar energy and battery storage, smarter grids can better connect consumers and suppliers of electricity, while there is potential for big improvements to crops grown for energy uses, said Professor Jim Skea of Imperial College London and vice-chair of the IPCC working group on mitigation of climate change.

Big study on how climate change affects Singapore
David Ee The Straits Times AsiaOne 8 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE is embarking on a nationwide effort to study how climate change will affect every piece of state infrastructure on the island - from roads and power stations to parks.

Every government agency and statutory board will be involved in what is a key plank in the nation's strategy to cope with the inevitable impact of a warming planet.

For instance, the more than 3,000km road network will be studied to understand how rising sea levels and extreme weather such as intense rain, higher temperatures and flooding could affect it.

The study will then look for ways to make these more resilient, as well as predict what would happen if nothing is done, said the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Ministry of National Development yesterday.

Ministry representatives spoke to the media on the sidelines of an event yesterday by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) at the Furama Riverfront Hotel to give insights on its recent report. The IPCC said that sea levels could rise by up to 0.82m by 2100, depending on greenhouse gas emissions.

Its scientists also predict that South-east Asia will get both hotter and wetter in future, while intense rain and dry spells may become more common.

The risk assessment framework was developed by the Government earlier this year to add to its climate change strategy.

It represents a more systematic method to guide agencies as they plan how to address climate change, said the spokesmen.

It would also help identify measures to adapt to climate change early.

Lessons were drawn from similar frameworks in the United States, Britain, Australia, the Netherlands and South Korea.

The first findings from the study will be available in 2016. The Government hopes that the private sector would subsequently adopt its own framework.

Yesterday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan spoke at the event about Singapore's vulnerabilities as a low-lying and densely populated city-state.

"We have witnessed for ourselves the increase in frequency and intensity of rainfall, as well as higher temperatures and longer periods of dry spells," said Dr Balakrishnan, who cited how Singapore had imported sand at "tremendous economic cost" to ensure that its reclaimed land was 2.25m above the highest tide level, to guard against sea-level rise.

"If we don't prepare adequately enough, then if and when a disaster occurs, the costs are escalated," he said.

Meanwhile, IPCC scientists said yesterday that not enough research exists for them to understand well how climate change will affect weather phenomena in South-east Asia.

They called for more studies to be done, as well as more local scientists to contribute to the IPCC's work.

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Up to S$100,000 fine for every day of transboundary haze

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 7 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan tabled changes to Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution bill in Parliament on Monday (July 7). The amendments were made based on feedback from members of the public following a month-long consultation.

When it was first unveiled early this year, the draft Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill proposed a fine of up to S$300,000 for those found guilty. Following public feedback, penalties have increased to up to S$100,000 for every day that the haze occurs in Singapore.

For example, if the haze persists at an unhealthy level and evidence shows it is caused by three days of burning, culprits can be fined up to S$300,000.

"There was a sense that we needed to increase the overall level of deterrence and this was one way to do that, because otherwise you have the position where the guy says, 'Well since I've already caused the haze on one day, I might as well do more of it'," said Dr Balakrishnan.

"So we felt there was more of a need to send a clear signal. So first you should not do it, and if you do it, try and put it out as quickly as possible. Hence, pegging it to each day of the transboundary haze it has caused."

The fine for not complying with a notice to take preventive measures has also been amended - from a previous cap of S$450,000, including the S$300,000 penalty, to up to S$50,000 for every day of non-compliance. The maximum penalty for each offence is now S$2 million - including penalty and non-compliance.The bill also exposes guilty parties liable to civil action by affected individuals, companies or industries.

Should the foreign-based director of the errant company be in Singapore, for example, the court can now require him to remain in the country to give evidence or more information.

A narrow definition of "land-owner" in the draft bill also raised concerns, especially for countries where a third party may be operating a particular plantation.

In this case, the bill also now defines the owner of the land to include anyone with a valid licence or permit to carry out operations, or one who has an agreement with the landowner. However, the bill allows accused parties who have taken measures to stop or prevent the fires to use this as a defense.

"This bill cannot act in isolation. This is an ASEAN problem," noted Dr Balakrishnan. "We need effective collaboration, cooperation between governments. We need to share information, we need to share results of investigations."

Dr Balakrishnan says he hopes irresponsible behaviour that causes the yearly problem will be deterred with a network of agencies working together with existing legislation.

- CNA/ly

Stiffer fines proposed for firms that cause haze
Siau Ming En Today Online 8 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE — The Government has proposed stiffer fines of up to S$2 million for companies that cause unhealthy levels of haze, following feedback that suggested fines were too low.

Under proposed laws on transboundary haze pollution that were introduced in Parliament yesterday, a firm can be fined up to S$100,000 a day for every day of unhealthy haze that blankets Singapore — for a continuous period of 24 hours or more — at about the same time as the company’s haze-causing activities.

Also, companies that fail to comply with notices to take preventive measures during a period of haze could be fined up to an additional S$50,000 a day. The maximum penalty for each of the offences is capped at S$2 million.

Amendments to the draft legislation were made following a month-long public consultation earlier this year, in which respondents noted that the proposed fines were too low. The Government had initially proposed that errant firms be fined up to S$300,000 if they were found to have caused or contributed to the haze, or up to S$450,000 if they deliberately ignored requests to prevent, reduce or control the haze.

Some who provided feedback on the draft Bill also felt that non-landowning entities — which have agreements such as leases and licences with landowners — should also be held responsible for contributing to transboundary haze. Hence, the Government is proposing that an “owner” be defined as any person or entity that holds a valid lease, licence or permit to carry out farming or forestry operations, or one who has an arrangement with its landowner to do so. These persons or entities can also be held accountable for causing the haze.

Speaking to reporters last Friday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the penalties have been increased to send an “unequivocal signal” to deter companies from engaging in irresponsible behaviour.

However, he also reiterated that proving that parties are responsible for transboundary haze will be a challenge and that the Bill cannot act in isolation. “This is an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) problem. We need effective collaboration and cooperation between governments. We need to share information and the results of our investigations,” he said.

To make enforcement more effective, officers will be empowered to serve a notice in writing to obtain documents and information that are relevant to investigations and prosecution. The court can also require people to remain in the country to ensure the parties comply with the notice.

The Bill tabled yesterday, which also allows for civil action for losses due to haze, does not stipulate the level of haze that Singapore has to experience before firms or other entities are found to have committed an offence. This is expected to be addressed in the second reading of the Bill. A spokesperson for the Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources said the “unhealthy level” of haze would be determined based on the Pollutant Standards Index framework.

Air pollutants and climate change expert Jason Blake Cohen of the National University of Singapore welcomed the stiffer proposed fines, noting that companies would choose the “polluting way” if penalties on environment-related issues were too low.

However, he added that the causes and timeline on when a piece of land has been burned are also issues that need to be considered, especially in instances in which a firm steps in to use the land only after it has been cleared and is thus not held responsible for causing transboundary haze.

Firms causing haze may be fined up to $2m
David Ee The Straits Times AsiaOne 8 Jul 14;

IF A new Bill to fight transboundary haze here is passed, errant firms can be fined up to $2 million, nearly seven times what was originally suggested.

It has also widened its net to target not only companies or entities that cause haze in Singapore by having fires on their land, but also those engaged by the firms to start fires.

Introduced in Parliament yesterday, the Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill was toughened after public feedback.

Those who commented on the draft Bill earlier this year said that the criminal penalties - previously a fine of up to $300,000 - were too low. They also wanted the duration of the haze to be taken into account.

Other changes to the draft Bill include requiring firms to prove that fires on their land are beyond their control and knowledge; and having the authority to prevent individuals from leaving Singapore if they have been served notice.

Singapore has been periodically blanketed by unhealthy haze in past years, caused by illegal clearing of land by burning in Indonesia to grow crops.

After the country experienced its worst haze in history last year, the Government proposed the Bill as a way to deter errant firms both abroad and here more strongly.

The new fines would mean that the longer the haze affects Singapore, the higher the penalty on the guilty parties.

They can be fined up to $100,000 for each day of haze, up to a maximum of $2 million for each unbroken stretch. This is as long as haze lingers here for 24 hours or more continuously, at a stipulated air-quality level yet to be decided by the authorities.

If a company ignores requests to prevent or control haze, it can be fined an additional $50,000 for each day it failed to take action. But first, satellite images, meteorological data and maps must show that the fires are on land owned or occupied by this company, and that the wind is blowing smoke from them towards Singapore. Those affected by haze can also bring civil suits against the culprits.

The Bill has raised some questions over how it would be enforced. If passed, it could take effect by October or November.

Last Friday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said that the amended Bill is to send "an unequivocal signal" to deter firms from causing haze.

"I want to emphasise the need for cooperation, and for sharing of information. This is the way which I hope that we will be able to make progress. This is a regional problem. This is not only a Singapore problem," he said.

So far this year, smoke from fires in Sumatra, Indonesia, has been kept away from Singapore by favourable winds.

Increased fines for companies that cause unhealthy levels of haze proposed
Siau Ming En Today Online 7 Jun 14;

SINGAPORE — The Government has proposed stiffer fines of up to S$2 million for companies that cause unhealthy levels of haze, following feedback that the suggested fines were too low.

Under proposed laws on transboundary haze pollution that were introduced in Parliament yesterday, a firm can be fined up to S$100,000 a day for every day of haze that blankets Singapore — for a continuous period of 24 hours or more — at about the same time as the company’s haze-causing activities.

Also, companies that fail to comply with preventive measures during the haze episode could be fined up to an additional S$50,000 each day. The maximum penalty for each of the offences is capped at S$2 million.

Amendments to the draft legislation were made following a month-long public consultation earlier this year, where respondents noted that the proposed fines were too low. The Government had initially proposed that errant companies be fined up to S$300,000 if they were found to have caused or contributed to haze, or up to S$450,000 if they deliberately ignored requests to prevent, reduce or control the haze.

Some who provided feedback on the draft bill also felt that non-land-owning entities — who have agreements such as leases and licences with landowners — should also be held responsible for contributing to transboundary haze.

Hence, the Government is proposing an “owner” be defined as any person who holds a valid lease, licence or permit to carry out farming or forestry operations, or one who has an arrangement with the land owner to do so. These entities can also be held accountable for causing transboundary haze.

Speaking to reporters last Friday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the penalties have been increased to send an “unequivocal signal” to deter companies from engaging in irresponsible behaviour.

But he also reiterated that proving parties are responsible for transboundary haze will be a challenge, and the Bill cannot act in isolation. “This is an ASEAN problem. We need effective collaboration, cooperation between governments. We need to share information, we need to share results of investigations,” he said.

To make enforcement more effective, officers will be empowered to serve a notice in writing to obtain certain documents and information that are relevant to investigations and prosecution. The court can also require persons to remain in the country to ensure that the parties comply with the notice.

The Bill — which also allows for civil action for losses due to haze — tabled yesterday does not stipulate the prescribed level of haze Singapore has to experience before companies or other entities are found to have committed an offence. This is expected to be addressed in the second reading of the Bill. A MEWR spokesperson said the “unhealthy level” of haze will be determined based on the current Pollutant Standards Index framework.

Air pollutants and climate change expert Assistant Professor Jason Blake Cohen of the National University of Singapore welcomed the stiffer proposed penalties, noting that companies would choose the “polluting way” if penalties on environmentally-related issues were too low.

But he added that the causes and timeline on when the land has been burned are also issues that need to be considered, especially in instances where a company steps in to use the land only after the land has been cleared and is not held responsible for causing transboundary haze.

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Haze preparations in place, says Minister Balakrishnan

Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 7 Jul 14;

SINGAPORE: Preparations are in place among Government agencies and at the community level should the haze appear again this year, said Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday (July 7).

He told Parliament that hotspots in Sumatra increased to 143 on June 25. The likelihood of an El Nino weather pattern during the current South West Monsoon could also mean an extended dry season with a higher risk of transboundary haze.

Dr Balakrishnan said while Indonesia has to do more in fire prevention efforts, Singapore has also offered its help in suppressing fires. The haze assistance offered include one C-130 aircraft for cloud seeding operations and a team from SCDF to provide assessment and planning assistance to Indonesian counterparts in fire-fighting efforts.

At the community level, masks have been distributed to all households and WeCare packages containing masks and eye drops were distributed to lower income and needy families.

Dr Balakrishnan said the Inter-Agency Haze Task Force has also met and its plans will be activated, if the need arises.

"After our experience last year, Singapore and Singaporeans are far better prepared if anything untoward were to occur this year,” the minister said. “Singaporeans are aware that haze can come, it can arrive unpredictably and very quickly. I mean it takes literally about six hours from the onset of the plume to be brought across the narrow straits to us.”

- CNA/xk

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Malaysia: Air quality in Klang Valley moderate

The Star 8 Jul 14;

PETALING JAYA: Haze enveloped parts of Klang Valley with air pollutant index readings in some areas rising to moderate levels.

As of 4pm yesterday, moderate API readings were recorded in Banting (55), Kuala Selangor (53), Port Klang (72), Petaling Jaya (51), Shah Alam (51), Batu Muda (88) and Cheras (65), according to the Department of Environment.

Putrajaya was the only area with good air quality as of yesterday evening with a reading of 41.

Other locations nationwide with moderate API readings were Nilai, Negri Sembilan (52); Bakar Arang (Kedah) (53); Jerantut (52); Jalan Tasek, Ipoh (67); SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh (62); Tanjung Malim (87); Kuala Terengganu (64); and Kema-man (51).

An API reading of between zero and 50 indicates good air quality; between 51 and 100, moderate; between 101 and 200, unhealthy; between 201 and 300, very unhealthy and over 301, hazardous.

Natural Resources and Environ-ment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said there had been 4,361 cases of open burning from January to two days ago.

“Of this figure, open burning in agricultural land was the highest (1,432 cases).

“This is followed by 1,001 cases of bush fires and 897 cases in forested areas.

“There have been 796 cases of small open burning incidents, 132 in construction areas, 69 at dump sites and 34 in industrial areas,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Palanivel added that 43 investigation papers were opened and compound notices had been sent to those involved in 297 open burning cases.

He added that warning letters were sent for 94 other cases.

Under Section 29(A) of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, those convicted of open burning can be fined not more than RM500,000 or sentenced to a jail term of not more than five years or both.

A maximum compound of RM2,000 can also be imposed for every offence.

“The trans-boundary haze pollution affecting Malaysia follows the south-west monsoon season.

This is expected to continue until September,” Palanivel said.

He also noted that moderate smoke haze from fires in Riau province in Indonesia’s central Sumatra would be brought to the central west coast of the peninsula by south-westerly winds.

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Malaysia: Minimising human-elephant contact, conflict

Roy Goh New Straits Times 7 Jul 14;

KALABAKAN: MORE cases of human-elephant conflicts can be expected with the opening of more land or forest conversions for agriculture.

This was recently discussed in a workshop where ideas and proposals were tabled to find the best solution to the crisis.

Held at the Luasong Forestry Centre in Kalabakan, the full day workshop involved government authorities, non-governmental organisations and oil palm plantation executives.

The workshop jointly organised by the Sabah Wildlife department and World Widlife Fund-Malaysia with focus on the continued survival of the Bornean pygmy elephants in Sabah.

Last year 14 elephants died after being poisoned near the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve and it points to the issue given the proximity of oil palm plantations outside the area in the district of Tawau.

That got global attention on human-elephant conflict that has existed for generations in Sabah.

Cases of elephants venturing into villages to look for food have also made heads turned of late indicating how desperate the species are to survive.

Nurzhafarina Othman, a PhD student who has been studying elephant ecology and movement in Kinabatangan said the opening of forests for oil palm cultivation are forcing elephants out of their habitat.

She opined the elephant population has been stable for about 10 years now. "The size of habitat available to the elephants (forest and grassland) however has declined regularly during this period."

There are also the construction of electric fences, drains and destruction of pathways, some of which are reduced to become "bottle necks" that are forcing herds of elephants out of their habitat, Nurzhafarina said.

In February this year a herd of about 30 elephants damaged a sizeable amount of crops at a village in Kampung Bauto in Telupid. Wildlife rescue rangers successfully got the elephants out by translocating a matriarch and an aggressive female back to where the herd came from.

The rest followed with a team of rangers monitoring the herd to ensure the elephants moved the right direction.

Similar in Kinabatangan the last two months saw a herd of nine elephants venturing in and out Kampung Sukau, a popular tourist attraction for its river safari cruises.

All nine has been translocated to the nearby Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary by the State wildlife department.

The conversion of forests has created fragmented or patches of habitats that are not enough to contain large elephant herds. This forced the species out of their habitats and at many instances venture to plantations or even villages.

This was why forest corridors at plantations or even villages were suggested by experts as it allows the elephants to move from one to another instead of venturing into their oil palm plots.

During the workshop Bernard Tai, WWF-Malaysia Head of Conservation for Sabah said there are ways to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, elephants in particular as it is a major issue in the state.

“The increasing amount of complaints lodged by plantation companies regarding elephant intrusion emphasises the need for preventive measures."

Tai acknowledged the challenge faced by plantations to reduce crop losses but also pointed out uncoordinated fencing and fragmentation of forests have increased conflicts.

"With a medium for all parties affected by human elephant conflict to interact and discuss, issues were clearly laid out and understood, making it an easier platform for all to decide on a solution,” Tai said.

“By spreading best management practices, we hope that people realise this is a serious issue but there are solutions that benefit all parties involved. We hope to see a reduction of these conflicts and strive for a harmonious relationship between human and nature,” he added.

The workshop helped promote a greater understanding of the causes of conflict, and provided an opportunity for plantations to share success stories on managing conflict.

The participants also discussed and proposed options, from various points of view, for long term and immediate management of human-elephant conflicts in Sabah.

Putting up electric fences, removing bottlenecks and barriers for elephant movements, restoring riparian corridors and proper land use planning to locate fences and corridors are some of the effective options discussed.

Now what’s left is to see if the plantations take up the ideas and suggestions - for the sake of the elephants.

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