Donate NowPalm oil is a billion-dollar industry, and Indonesia is one of the major global suppliers. Palm oil is used in numerous hygiene, food, and cosmetic products, but the industry is rife with problems. Though the industry is hugely profitable, the workers who toil the land see very few of the benefits, earning little money from a dangerous job and suffering health consequences.
Furthermore, the rapid deforestation to clear land for palm oil plantations has caused irreversible changes to the environment. The country pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 2019, but the impact of deforestation is still felt by the locals who live on the plantations.
In turn, the changing weather in Indonesia has forced more people from farming families to leave and find work abroad. These climate refugees are vulnerable to human traffickers and exploitation.