The real cost of palm oil | Andika Putraditama

In this TED Talk Daily episode, host Elise Hu introduces Andika Putraditama, a sustainability expert, who discusses the critical role of forests and peatlands in mitigating climate change, particularly in regions like Indonesia where deforestation significantly contributes to carbon emissions. Putraditama highlights the challenge of balancing commodity production (like palm oil) with forest conservation, noting that current conservation financing is insufficient. He introduces the RIMBA Collective, a mechanism that allows companies to contribute funds towards forest protection and restoration proportionate to their raw material impact, aiming to conserve half a million hectares of forest in Southeast Asia over the next 25 years while supporting local communities and preserving endangered species' habitats. Putraditama addresses the challenges of finding investable forest conservation projects in remote locations and changing the perception that ecosystem protection is merely a charity project, advocating for the integration of environmental costs into the pricing of everyday products to ensure the preservation of natural ecosystems.