Indonesia's Forest Fires Putting More CO2 Into Atmosphere Than The Whole US; Widodo Heads Home Early
Indonesia is in the grips of a double-headed climate and public health crisis as fires rage across the country. On Monday, the fires reached such a fever pitch that Indonesian Prime Minister Joko Widodo cut a trip to the U.S. short to return home and deal with the inferno that’s turning air toxic and putting more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than the U.S. on a daily basis.
Nearly 116,000 fires have been documented and air quality in Indonesia and its neighboring countries has suffered. The fires are a yearly occurrence, but this year is already the second-most prolific burn year on record and dry conditions driven by this year’s strong El Niño mean it still has a shot at the top spot.
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The current fires are burning in carbon-rich peatland and hardwood forests. That’s causing them to release as much greenhouse gas as the U.S. economy daily into the atmosphere. Fire emissions have already passed Japan’s annual greenhouse gas emissions and by the end of the year, the fires could account for up to 3 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions from all human activities.
That means the fires are contributing to the long-term climate crisis, but they’re also driving huge public health and economic woes for the region in the here and now. Schools, flights and outdoor events have been canceled in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia as the smoke permeates daily existence. As many as 500,000 people have reported haze-related illnesses, according to the Guardian. The Indonesian government is combating the fires with help from Australia and other countries in the region and costs are expected to run in the billions. However, fighting fires doesn’t address the recurring issue for a country where nearly 40 percent of its population works in agriculture.
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http://www.climatecentral.org/news/indonesias-fires-climate-public-health-19601
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