{
  "id": 18920369,
  "title": "Fewer hazy days, bigger bill: Singapore’s estimated 2026 haze costs hit S$2.32b, surpassing 2015",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/fewer-hazy-days-bigger-bill-singapores-estimated-2026-haze-costs-hit",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T10:55:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2026/11/08/fewer-hazy-days-bigger-bill-singapores-estimated-2026-haze-costs-hit-s232b-surpassing-2015/242495"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore's 2026 haze crisis has incurred an estimated cost of S$2.32 billion (RM7.34 billion) for its economy, surpassing the inflation-adjusted expense of the 2015 crisis despite fewer hazy days and lower average pollution levels, according to initial analysis by two university researchers. The estimated losses as of October 31 were approximately 4% higher than the inflation-adjusted S$2.23 billion projected for 2015, reported Singapore's The Business Times. The assessment conducted by Nanyang Technological University's Euston Quah and Singapore University of Social Sciences' Eugene Or attributed the increased cost to factors such as population growth, rising incomes, heightened visitor spending, and a greater estimated health burden. Health-related expenses, encompassing medical treatment and the economic repercussions of illness and premature deaths, were higher than in 2015, along with losses stemming from tourism, work and activity disruptions due to illness, and expenditures on protective measures like masks. Conversely, the assessment also accounted for the impact on public well-being, including individuals' inclination to pay for cleaner air. The researchers emphasized that the magnitude of the damage reinforces the necessity for funding prevention efforts alongside imposing stricter penalties. They proposed a \"victim-pays\" approach, wherein Singapore and other affected nations could contribute to financing alternatives to land clearing, particularly in Indonesia, to reduce the likelihood of future haze episodes. Under this scheme, countries impacted by haze would contribute towards making fire-free practices more affordable, as the cost of supporting such practices may prove less than the damage averted. The researchers acknowledged potential fairness concerns surrounding the proposal but stressed that companies responsible for fires should remain accountable. They cautioned against equating the estimated economic losses with equivalent spending on prevention, suggesting that a S$2.32 billion haze bill does not automatically warrant a S$2.32 billion prevention budget. Instead, they advocated for phased funding contingent on measurable outcomes, emphasizing that any proposed intervention must undergo a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis to ensure that public funds are allocated to measures that effectively mitigate fire risks.",
  "summary": "SINGAPORE, Nov 8 — Singapore’s 2026 haze episode has cost its economy an estimated S$2.32 billion (RM7.34 bi...",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}