Executive Summary

This case study explores how an anthropogenic haze episode in September and October 2015 contributed to 100,300 excess premature cardiopulmonary disease-related deaths in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. It will examine how historical and present-day land use and land cover change (LULCC) practices on peatland areas have altered ecosystems and influenced the vulnerability and severity of the 2015 event.

The case study also outlines how the Indonesian government has addressed this issue with the creation of new policies and the establishment of a government agency to manage and restore peatlands. Collaborating with groups across the country, as well as with international researchers, this government agency implemented a multi-tiered approach to address the complex drivers that contribute to peatland fires. Included in that approach is the use of a new tool that allows policymakers to link land use scenarios, associated fire emissions, and long-term health consequences into the foreseeable future.