The ongoing forest and peat fires in Indonesia have caused air quality in parts of Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo to deteriorate dramatically. JPIC Kalimantan (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation), a partner organisation supported by Misereor, reports serious health consequences for the population and calls for decisive action from the government, businesses and international actors.
“The air, which should be our most fundamental right, has become a threat,” says Frans DS Sani Lake, Director of JPIC Kalimantan. According to the organisation, children, older people and small-scale farmers are suffering particularly badly from the persistent smoke. Schools have had to switch to remote learning at times, and health services are under severe strain.
Serious consequences for children
JPIC Kalimantan has been supporting farming and indigenous communities in the region for many years. In recent weeks, the organisation has set up a smoke-free shelter in its office where people can find clean air and respite for a short time. “What worries us most are the children, especially those under five. In this smoke, they are most vulnerable to coughs, other respiratory illnesses, nausea and headaches,” reports Agnes, an activist with JPIC Kalimantan. Many families are forced to buy air purifiers and other protective measures, which are barely affordable for many people. Small-scale farmers are also particularly affected. Following a long period of drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon, harvests and income opportunities are now being further compromised by the fires. Smoke and restricted mobility are making it difficult to harvest, transport and sell agricultural produce.
In JPIC Kalimantan’s view, the fires must not be regarded solely as a consequence of extreme weather events. The organisation cites the drainage of peatlands and large-scale deforestation as the main causes of the recurring fire disasters. Furthermore, there is insufficient monitoring of land-use concessions, particularly for palm oil production. At the same time, the organisation warns against blanket accusations that the traditional, small-scale shifting cultivation practised by indigenous communities is responsible for the fires.
JPIC Kalimantan emphasises that Europe also has a responsibility here. Raw materials such as palm oil form part of global supply chains that are closely linked to land use in Indonesia. European supply chain and deforestation regulations must therefore be consistently implemented. At the same time, smallholders must not be made to bear the brunt of the necessary changes.
Sustainable consumption and human rights
Misereor supports the demands of its partner organisation for greater protection of forests and peatlands, the consistent prosecution of environmental offences, and the recognition and protection of indigenous land rights. The current situation in Indonesia shows once again that the consequences of environmental destruction affect the most vulnerable sections of the population above all, says Christine Kögel, Misereor’s Indonesia specialist. “We, too, bear responsibility through our consumption patterns,” the expert emphasises. “Palm oil is found in many everyday products, from crisps and sweets to margarine, soaps and cosmetics. It is vital to ensure, when making purchases, that production conditions are socially and environmentally sustainable.” Organic and fair-trade palm oil represent the far better alternative in this regard.
