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• GHG emissions from peatlands and their contributions towards global climate are assessed. • Southeast Asia is a significant region for peatlands; their restoration can reduce GHG emissions. • CO 2 and N 2 O emission fluxes from drainage, fire and agriculture areas are insufficiently known. • Very little is known on drained peatlands and their GHG emission characterisation is required. • Modern technology with traditional knowledge is important for peatland water management. At present, there is insufficient data to understand the processes driving emissions and fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia (SEA). In this review, we discuss fundamental factors controlling emissions of major GHGs (CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O) from tropical peatlands and their contribution to global climate change. Classifying peatlands in tropical and subtropical regions can aid in understanding their emission characteristics. The applicability of existing GHG emission factors to land use categories in SEA is discussed. We find that rewetting peatland can increase CH 4 emissions, and therefore more studies are needed to establish whether peatlands act as a net sink or net sources of GHGs. Few studies have investigated the effectiveness of liming towards reducing peat soil acidity. The review also finds that there is limited data on CO 2 concentrations in drainage and wildfire areas, N 2 O fluxes in agriculture areas, and the impact and reduction of CH 4 in tropical peatlands. Addressing these research gaps could support the development of a framework for GHG emission measurements and abatement in tropical peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]