

13-year old sister holds her 7-month old brother who is suffering from a respiratory tract infection13-yr old sister holds her 7-mth old brother who is suffering a respiratory tract infection

It's been labelled a "crime against humanity". The "biggest environmental crime of the 21st century", and most certainly the "worst climate crisis in the world right now."

Since August, forests have been set alight to make way for plantations – a practice that has been happening for decades. But this year's El Nino means that conditions are extra dry, leaving toxic smoke to lay and linger. To make matters worse, about half of these fires are taking place on peatlands, which are a major global carbon storehouse. In recent days, the rate of carbon emissions from Indonesia's fires has outstripped the entire US economy.

Brief rainfall this week in Sumatra and Kalimantan has provided modest relief, but the crisis is far from over. The fires and smoke will return so long as companies are destroying forests and draining peatlands, and the government is lax on enforcing its policies. Here's how we can stop this devastating disaster…once and for all.

Military help extinguish the fire of burning peatland

1. Stop forest clearance…NOW!

FACT: stopping forest destruction is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to prevent catastrophic climate change. It's estimated that this year's haze will cost Indonesia's economy US $14 billion.

All agricultural commodity suppliers must immediately stop forest clearance and any further development on peatland; they must be monitored and held accountable for any potentially dangerous and illegal activities.

A couple guard their rubber tree plantation to make sure it doesn't catch fireA couple guard their rubber tree plantation to make sure it doesn't catch fire

2. Re-flood, repair, regenerate


Last week he repeated the same vow, calling for a moratorium on licensing for peatland concessions after at least 10 people died due to respiratory illnesses caused by the smoke. It's time for President Jokowi to stick to his promise.

Re-flooding and implementing other water management measures in critical peatland areas can sharply reduce fire risks - a solution Greenpeace has proposed for years.




There are many concessions where fire hotspots are indicated in mapping analysis, but our research also indicates that the company associated with the most is Asia Pulp & Paper.


However, the government has recently refused Greenpeace's request to make public the latest concession maps for analysis. Other companies have released very little information about their land holdings and the concessions that supply them, which makes you wonder – what do they have to hide?


4. Fight fire…by working together

The only way to stop these fires is to stop deforestation. Greenpeace is calling for palm oil and paper companies to join forces and enforce a total ban on forest clearance and peatland development in Indonesia. Companies could make this happen. After all, if corporations have the ability to destroy the world's forests, they also have the power to help save them.

Want to help #StoptheHaze once and for all? Take action and sign up here.

Bustar Maitar is Head of the Indonesia Forest Campaign at Greenpeace Southeast Asia.