A new report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), entitled “Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2008,” details many issues affecting the economic status of that region. One of the points that stands out is the effect of deforestation on the global climate. Deforestation, which occurs when trees are removed, burned or rot, causes carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere. According to the report, “[l]and-use emissions, driven mainly by deforestation, account for 17% of global [greenhouse gas] GHG emissions.” Over 28,000 square kilometers (10,800 square miles) of South and South-East Asian land is lost each year due to deforestation, and “[i]f these trends continue, land-use emissions are likely to increase until 2050.” It is therefore imperative to reverse deforestation. See Report at 35.
The findings of the report emphasize the repercussions of growth—such as how the economic drive for cheap biofuel is leading to deforestation, which is increasing greenhouse gases. The global climate is not the only victim of poor agricultural practices and deforestation. As the report points out there are more than 218 million people living in extreme poverty in the Asia-Pacific region. The solutions for the deforestation must not ignore the human cost.
The report suggests that developing countries must be included in global climate change discussions. Even if they are not large emitters of greenhouse gases, the developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region can participate in mitigating the effects of global warming. The report calls for a regional plan to address climate change while integrating the countries’ macroeconomic, social, and environmental policies.
In order to combat the increase in land-use emissions, the countries of Asia must not only slow deforestation but must look to reforestation. This has impacts on the economics and the agriculture of the entire region. Additionally, it will help to slow erosion and maintain biodiversity. By working to reverse deforestation, the Asian counties may be able to contribute more towards a solution for global warming than any other action they could take. It will, however, mean that the agricultural and social policies of those countries must change to work towards that goal.
A complete copy of the United Nation’s report is available on ESCAP’s website at