Science diplomacy, sustainable funding vital to stronger Asean haze response
MANILA: Malaysia hopes its proposals to address transboundary haze, including the adoption of Science Diplomacy and establishment of a Sustainable Haze Fund, will receive serious consideration from Asean member states.
Malaysia is advocating for a science-based approach and sustainable financing to combat transboundary haze pollution across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim outlined these proposals during the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee meeting in Bali, Indonesia, in July.
The initiatives aim to bolster scientific cooperation and ensure evidence-based decision-making in addressing the haze issue. Malaysia also hopes to secure top priority for these proposals at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) in December.
For Anwar, protecting ASEAN's biodiversity is not just an environmental obligation; it's a matter of regional sovereignty. He emphasized the collective responsibility to strengthen regional governance, ensure sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity resources, and safeguard them from external exploitation or misuse. This stance was reiterated during the plenary session of the 49th ASEAN Summit.
In response to the ongoing air pollution crisis, ASEAN foreign ministers have now urged for the accelerated operation of the Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control. This comes amid fresh concerns over the severe air quality that has once again impacted several Southeast Asian nations.
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