Month: February 2024

Transboundary haze is a widespread air pollution and smog that affects multiple countries and regions, including Southeast Asia (SEA). The issue of haze has transcended from being a regional concern to a global environmental crisis and is primarily caused by land clearing and peatland fires, causing severe environmental degradation, health hazards, and economic disruptions. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States (AMS) have taken several measures to tackle transboundary haze and promote regional cooperation to address the problem effectively. The key measures include the signing and ratification of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), adoption of the Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation (2016-2020) and the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy 2006-2020 (APMS), which specifically provided a framework of action to address peatland related haze issues.

A review commissioned to evaluate progress and experiences of the First (2016-2020) Roadmap implementation to achieve the vision of haze-free ASEAN has led to the development of a new roadmap.  In August 2023, the Second Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation (Haze-Free Roadmap) (2023-2030) was adopted during the 18th Meeting of the Committee Under the Conference of the Parties to ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COM-18) and 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COP-18). It consists of nine mutually reinforcing strategies.

The Second Roadmap synthesizes lessons learned, best practices, and innovative approaches, charting a course that amalgamates regional aspirations with actionable steps toward a haze-free future. Drawing on lessons learned from the implementation of the First Roadmap and considering the need to increase stakeholders’ awareness of the Second Roadmap, it is crucial to provide a platform for relevant actors to exchange of views on the Roadmap’s various strategies and actions for addressing transboundary haze issues. Such platforms enable relevant stakeholders to better understand differing perspectives on aspects such as policy and regulatory framework and law enforcement, sustainable land management practices, community engagement, innovative technologies etc. This can serve as the basis for creating effective policies and implementation.

To promote public awareness of the Second Roadmap and encourage participation of stakeholders in the implementation of strategies and actions, the ASEAN Secretariat together with MAHFSA Programme, is hosting a hybrid launch of the Second Roadmap and policy dialogue on 21 February 2024 in Jakarta. This event will consist of a half-day launch ceremony followed by a policy dialogue. The policy dialogue will highlight new elements of the Second ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap and discuss the inextricably linked strategies and actions. The policy dialogue will explore the roles of both the public and private sectors in combating haze, while emphasizing the critical need for collaborative endeavors between these sectors. By fostering a dialogue that encompasses diverse viewpoints and stakeholder contributions, the event endeavors to pave the way for a more holistic and inclusive approach towards achieving a haze-free Southeast Asia.

Objectives

1. Highlight key elements of the Second ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap
2. Stakeholders discuss perspectives on strategies and actions, and resources of the Second Roadmap, including the role of public and private sector and other institutions to tackle fires and haze in the region
3. Identify opportunities for collaboration and alignment
4. The Second Haze-Free Roadmap is launched and showcased

Contact person: Santi Darmokusumo, s.darmokusumo@cifor-icraf.org

Array ( [0] => Asia/Jakarta )

Background

Knowing that blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes are capable of sequestering and storing more carbon than terrestrial forests, they have attracted global attention, notably in climate change mitigation and adaptation. As home of around 17% of global blue carbon stock, Indonesia has a great opportunity to conduct international trading of carbon credits from its coastal ecosystems.

To implement the Paris Agreement, Indonesia has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as outlined in its nationally determined contribution (NDC). Presidential Regulation No. 98/2021 on Implementation of Carbon Economic Value (NEK) was enacted to help the country achieve its emissions reduction targets. This was followed by Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 21/2022 on Technical Guidelines for Indonesia Emissions Reduction Certification (SPEI). In addition, the Government of Indonesia has launched the Indonesia Carbon Exchange (IDXCarbon) to provide markets for trading of carbon credits to accelerate carbon emission reduction, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 or earlier.

Stakeholders, including non-state actors, private sector, business and coastal communities, are interested in taking the opportunities to invest and develop blue carbon projects in Indonesia – the largest host of mangroves in the world. However, they have yet to understand how SPEI, NEK and IDXCarbon will be operationalized and enable them to participate in blue carbon projects. This will eventually speed up the process to achieve country’s net zero emissions (NZE) in 2060 or earlier.

The CIFOR-ICRAF Transformative Partnership Platform: Blue Carbon Deck team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, IPB University, the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI), and Indonesian Mangrove Society (IMS) organizes an open dialogue as a platform to facilitate exchange knowledge and experiences. It is expected that the challenges and barriers to implement projects on the ground may be removed and multi-stakeholder partnerships are promoted.

Objectives

• Promote the role of Blue Carbon Deck as the platform for mutually beneficial partnership among actors interested in managing blue carbon ecosystems;
• Familiarize with the mechanisms and procedures of blue carbon project development, with particular attention to policy, regulatory framework and methodologies;
• Explore the investment and business opportunities leading to the blue carbon credit trading mechanism in Indonesia; taking into account the national commitments and agenda.

This event will be held bilingually in Indonesian and English with simultaneous translation.

For in-person attendance (by RSVP), please contact Phidju Sagala, p.sagala@cifor-icraf.org.

Array ( [0] => Asia/Jakarta )

As the world’s top decision-making body on the environment, UNEA aims to help restore harmony between humanity and nature, improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people.

UNEA-6 will focus on how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Backed by strong science, political resolve and engagement with society, the Assembly will be an opportunity for world governments, civil society groups, the scientific community and the private sector to shape the global environmental policy.

As the planet’s only universal membership forum for the environment, UNEA provides a unique platform for courageous decisions and new ideas to chart a bold plan of collective environmental action. In so doing, UNEA-6 will support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

UNEA-6 will be preceded by a meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, which will help lay the groundwork for the Assembly.

Array ( [0] => Africa/Abidjan )

This conference, set against the backdrop of Lisbon’s rich architectural, historical, and cultural heritage promises to be a gathering of researchers and enthusiasts from around the world. It will be an excellent opportunity to learn, exchange experiences and ideas, establish partnerships, and contribute to the advancement of tropical ecological science, ultimately fostering a sustainable future for the incredible ecosystems of tropical regions.

Array ( [0] => Africa/Abidjan )

The Agroecological TRANSITIONS programme asks the question of how to scale up agroecology through improved metrics, digital tools and public and private incentives and investment. Our program takes a very broad approach to transforming food systems, with a plurality of outcome-based methods. By considering both strengths and trade-offs of different viable options in particular contexts, TRANSITIONS aims to take the best of all of them to scale up innovations, principles and approaches that break existing barriers and lock-ins.

Implementing partners will present the most important highlights of the program to date, all the while creating a space for discussion with key partners working on transforming food systems on the ground. A panel will openly discuss perspectives for the future with the objective of agreeing on a set of recommendations for action for the TRANSITIONS program.

Ample time will be given for a thorough Q&A and interaction with the audience.

Array ( [0] => Europe/Rome )