How to stop Indonesia’s forest fires and toxic haze?
Forest fires have turned Indonesia into the world’s fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter and left half-a-million ill.
More than 500,000 Indonesians are said to be suffering from acute respiratory infection after having been exposed to fire-induced haze for months.
The smoke was caused by forest fires that got out of hand after being used to clear land for agriculture.
The haze has spread to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Experts have warned that this year’s incident could be one of the worst, surpassing similar cases in 1997 and 2013.
The Indonesian government is now under pressure to do more to tackle what many call an environmental and health disaster.
But how to stop these fires and toxic haze? And what is the impact on global warming?
Presenter: Martine Dennis
Guests:
Pieter van Lierop – Forestry Officer, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Scott Edwards – Doctoral Researcher at the University of Birmingham, focusing on Southeast Asian diplomacy
Nur Hidayati – Department Head of Advocacy for Walhi, the Indonesian Forum for Environment