CARS running on palm biodiesel may emit less carbon but once the overall production of the biofuel is scrutinised, its usage actually inflicts more damage on the global climate.  

This is because large tracts of oil palm plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia, the world’s top two growers of the crop, sit on peat forests.  

“Peatlands are the world’s most important natural sinks and stores of carbon. But when peatlands are drained for cultivation, the peat dries up and breaks down, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere. This offsets any benefit derived from using palm biofuel,” says wetlands scientist Faizal Parish, director of Global Environment Centre.  

He says a quarter of South-East Asia’s oil palm plantations are on peat forests. A study released last November by Wetlands International says draining and burning of peatlands for farming in that region spewed two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, the equivalent of 8% of global fossil fuel emissions.  

“This is not just an emotional issue about wildlife. Peat forests are our main climate regulator but now, we’re destroying them,” says Parish. 

He adds that biofuel produced from peatland-grown oil palm generates more greenhouse gases than is saved.  

Each hectare of oil palm yields on average, 4 tonnes of palm oil. This can produce 3.4 tonnes of palm diesel, which is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel by 8 to 10 tonnes. But with each hectare of drained peatland releasing between 70 and 100 tonnes of CO2 annually (depending on how low the water table has dropped), net emissions from the plantation is an increase of 60 tonnes of CO2 per ha. And, carbon releases will continue, for as long as 50 years, until all the peat rots away.  

“Palm biodiesel should not be classed as a renewable biofuel. It has the opposite effect and makes climate change worse. If we include the loss of carbon due to fires caused directly or indirectly by the plantation or the loss of carbon stored in the cleared vegetation, the situation will be worse,” says Parish. 

He says oil palm is still grown on peat forests although it is known to be unsuitable for agriculture, because the land can often be had for free or cheaply. Plus, loggers can harvest the timber first.  

Most peatlands in Perak, for instance, have been taken over by oil palm. Parish disputes Government statements that no new land is being opened for oil palm, citing Sarawak’s plan to plant on one million ha of peatland.  

He warns of other environmental and social impacts. When drained peat forests lose their water-storage capability, adjacent areas may flood. In dry seasons, drained peatlands are vulnerable to fire. 

To stem emissions from the oil palm sector, Parish says conversion of peat forests and other forests into oil palm estates must stop. Also, plantation companies must improve water and land management in existing estates to prevent more emissions, such as by blocking ditches to maintain the water table.  

Rehabilitating neighbouring degraded peatlands helps too, as this will curb fires, which lead to more emissions.  

Parish says the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil guidelines on sustainable oil palm farming should be expanded to adequately cover peatlands and climate emissions, and be adhered to in all plantations.