{
  "id": 16293942,
  "title": "Asean needs a tribunal with teeth to tackle climate challenges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/asean-needs-a-tribunal-with-teeth-to-tackle-climate-challenges",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T06:43:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2026/10/1562528/asean-needs-tribunal-teeth-tackle-climate-challenges"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For decades, Asean has struggled to address the persistent haze plaguing the region, despite initial efforts. In September 1997, the haze reached alarming levels, prompting emergency declarations in Sarawak. More recently, in October 2026, schools across multiple Southeast Asian countries were closed due to hazardous air quality. The Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, signed by Asean in 2002, has failed to provide effective enforcement or dispute resolution, leaving the region vulnerable to environmental harm. With the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbating this issue, a new approach is needed. Proposals for an Asean Environmental Tribunal, modeled on the International Criminal Court, have been put forth. This tribunal should possess the power to hold governments and corporations accountable for repeated environmental violations, backed by binding jurisdiction, open evidence submission, and strict penalties. The tribunal's location in Singapore is suggested, given its strong institutions and commitment to anti-corruption. However, safeguards must be put in place to prevent conflicts of interest. As young people in Asean continue to face the consequences of climate change, a code of conduct with enforceable penalties is essential for holding all parties accountable, both in government and in the corporate sector.",
  "summary": "I have been breathing the haze, on and off, since I was a child. I was 14 in September 1997, when Sarawak declared a state of emergency after Kuching’s air pollutant index (API) reading passed 500, and it later peaked near 800.",
  "key_points": [
    "Asean has struggled with haze pollution for decades.",
    "Covid-19 pandemic worsens environmental challenges.",
    "Proposed Asean Environmental Tribunal to enforce accountability."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}