Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia

With Indonesia gripped by drought, fires are smoldering on the surface and underground.

The top 3

  1. Top Countries for Peat Fire Emissions: Indonesia frequently ranks as a top country for carbon emissions from peat fires, especially during El Niño years, due to extensive drained peatlands.
  2. Scale of Emissions: Equivalent to Entire Countries: Major peat fire events, such as those in Indonesia in 2015, can release 1.6 gigatonnes of CO2, equivalent to the annual emissions of countries like Germany and France.
  3. Impact on Regional Air Quality and Health: The extensive smoke haze from peat fires causes severe transboundary air pollution in Southeast Asia, leading to widespread acute respiratory infections and other health issues, with hundreds of thousands of cases reported during severe events.

Sources

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