Palm oil cultivation on peatlands and its impact on increasing Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract

Peatlands store very high carbon stocks. Damage to peatland ecosystem will have an impact on increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing the risk of climate change. Peatlands governance is important to prioritize the principle of conservation over cultivation. The aim of this study is to analyze and elaborate the conflict of interests between the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO). The methods are normative-legal research to diagnose the difference in the application of law between RSPO and ISPO. The findings show that RSPO as one of the world sustainable palm oil management standards has banned palm oil planting on peatlands based on its 2018 Principles and Criteria for the Production of Sustainable Palm Oil (P&C). Unfortunately, the palm management instrument in Indonesia which is ISPO still provides space for palm oil cultivation on peatlands. Relation of this study with climate change issues is that ISPO ideas are counterproductive to Indonesia’s commitment in reducing GHG emissions by 29% in 2030. Indonesia needs to evaluate peatland governance policies to prioritize conservation rather than cultivation.