Ending Southeast Asia’s never-ending haze cycle
Southeast Asia’s recurring haze is rooted in fires burning in Indonesia, but its regional impact calls for stronger ASEAN cooperation, accountability and prevention.
Southeast Asia has grappled with recurrent haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia for decades. The latest episode is no exception, with smoke from fires in Kalimantan spreading across Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and other parts of the region. ASEAN has long recognized this issue, adopting the Regional Haze Action Plan in 1997 and the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2002.
However, the problem persists due to a combination of factors, including human activity, environmental conditions, and inadequate enforcement of regulations. While Indonesia bears primary responsibility for preventing and fighting fires on its territory, regional cooperation and accountability are crucial in managing pollution that transcends national borders.
ASEAN can support Indonesia by increasing transparency, improving early warning systems, and stepping up practical collaboration, such as joint firefighting and peatland management. The solution lies not in expecting ASEAN to extinguish every fire but in strengthening regional cooperation to prevent fires from occurring in the first place.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
