Asia Toxic Haze Crisis – Our Black Swan

Abstract

Our ASEAN haze crisis has come to a head. After brewing for 50 years, severe recurrences in 2015, 2013 and 1997-1998 have ensnared millions of lives and inflicted billions in health and economic costs. This participatory seminar illuminates the key drivers precipitating our imminent future of severe haze as the new normal. We share expert evidence of toxin cloud emissions that transform the urgency of this challenge, and escalate it beyond a gamechanging global climate action loophole to a public health crisis. If decisive and constructive action were not urgently taken by an ASEAN+Friends multi-sectoral alliance, this constitutes our potential black swan. If cyanide etc toxins transform the safety of our water and land, the liveability of our homeland – let alone our prosperity – would be severely compromised. Haze100 could preclude SG100. And because the Indonesian palm oil industry is a key driver of GDP growth, and creates jobs for its large youthful population, a true solution must constructively empathize with and support the Government of Indonesia in this key aspect so as to avoid a Pyrrhic victory that bolsters ISIL’s SEA Hub. To solve this challenge at its roots while managing its repercussions, we put forth a comprehensive 12-point Mitigation.Adaptation.Prevention (MAP) strategy. 

Speaker’s Biography

Vivian is the Founding Director of PhilanthropyWorks, and the trusted advisor to select rainmakers. She leads PW in addressing key societal gaps, with deep due diligence – leveraging local and global experts – grounding strategic insights, a focus on tipping points or high-ROI gaps in the value chain to drive results. Tailored on-ground implementation and evaluation expertise extend to greenfield projects where necessary, even in locales like Pakistan. Vivian is sought after as a global thought leader in broad-ranging fields, and expert practitioner in Sustainable Development and Strategic Philanthropy. Though very low-key, their work speaks for itself, and leading global development practitioners and foundations have accordingly recommended their key contacts. Vivian was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford Business School, and further schooled at The World Bank (DC; built model of Indonesia’s actual civil service wage bill, as the first Junior Associate in 1998), Goldman Sachs (HK; M&A) and UBS (Singapore; Country Head & Regional Wealth Management Head’s Business Manager). Vivian’s expertise and insights have been sought by CNBC, Channel NewsAsia and Singapore’s Business Times etc. She is the 1st Asian board director elected to Nobel-winner Medecins sans Frontieres (Brussels). Board service also includes Singapore’s Securities Investors Association (SIAS). Her leadership is honoured by the World Economic Forum, Asean 100 Leadership Forum, Asia Society, and Her World (50 most inspiring women) etc.