Changing climate risk to opportunity

Covid-19 and other factors have given South-east Asia a respite from fires and the haze this year. Its countries should do more to encourage long-term solutions.

Firefighters and local university volunteers putting out fires in Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia, in September 2019. PHOTO: ST FILE
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

The world last year suffered many outsized fires, which are recurring this year in the Amazon and parts of the United States. This year, South-east Asia has largely been spared the fires and haze that often trouble Indonesia and the region. Yet, there are risks if we are complacent and conversely, opportunities to be gained if action is taken.

Consider the reason why the haze has not returned to our skies - the weather has been unusually wet, even now, usually the driest time of year. Wetter conditions result in a sharp fall in forest fires. Burnt area in Indonesia totalled 1.65 million ha last year. But so far this year, from January to September, only 207,000ha were burned.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 29, 2020, with the headline Changing climate risk to opportunity. Subscribe