InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – For many decades, we have known and informed about the sad news informing about the bad situation in this earth. But when negative issues develop, a researcher and website vice editor of The World in Data in Universitas Oxford, Hannah Ritchie wrote a book that proposed optimism and delivered new insight about how the world could make the situation upside down. One significant point in the book is the roles of palm oil industries that are often taken as the main actors in deforestation.

The book "Not the End of the World" is not only the way to clean up the reputation of palm oil industries but also delivering a deep study based on data and nuance. Ritchie denied simple descriptions about palm oil as the main factor in deforestation issue while he also revealed the facts that palm oil plantation development has helped to reduce land use in a whole.

The approach in evidence – base showed that palm oil is not the main cause of deforestation but its production is more efficient in land use to other vegetable oils, such as, soyoil and olive oil. This offers hopes that by the increasing vegetable oil demands, palm oil would play significant roles in forest conservation.

As InfoSAWIT quoted from Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), the book also encouraged to see every deforestation issue holistically, not only focus on palm oil. He said that one third of deforestation happened for premier forest conservation to be agriculture or plantation with livestock sectors as the biggest contributor.

“The book also encouraged comprehensive discussion about how to deal with deforestation in the globe, acknowledged cow livestock and soyoil (plantations) in South America, the harvests in Africa Sub – Sahara and of course, palm oil in Southeast Asia. It needs more discussion, not focus on palm oil only,” MPOC noted, Wednesday (17/4/2024)

The book also protested emotional response, such as, palm oil boycott but encouraged to get certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) production to confirm that there has been responsibly practices in every supply chain. The approach reflected the will to get practical solution which is supported by data, not only impulsive reactioin.

The book also faced deeper understanding about complex issues about deforestation, and getting responsible actions.

Palm oil industries represented by Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) are committed to cooperate with every stakeholder to get more sustainable future for this planet.

"Not the End of the World" is a book not only as a call to get new perspectives but also action to get collaborative actions for the welfare of the earth and next generations. (T2)