ASEAN states to intensify efforts against transboundary haze

By Zeus Legaspi

Five Asean member states have pledged to enhance monitoring and prevention measures to reduce transboundary haze during dry periods in the region. This commitment was made at the 24th meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution (24th MSC) on Thursday, June 8th.

Representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand attended the meeting held in Singapore. The countries braced for an increased likelihood of forest fires causing haze as the region experiences El Niño.

The risk of El Niño

During the meeting, the Asean Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) forecasted a 70% to 80% chance of El Niño conditions and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, leading to below-normal rainfall in the coming months.

ASMC's seasonal projections for August 2023 indicate that the northern Asean region may experience widespread and persistent shower activities, while the southern Maritime Continent is expected to face warmer-than-normal temperatures. It is in these southern areas where peatland and forest fires typically occur, resulting in haze.

According to the region's meteorological agency, there is an elevated chance for the hotspot and haze situation in the southern Asean region to be the most intense since 2019. The agency warned that prolonged periods of dry weather could increase hotspot activity and haze development, posing a risk of transboundary haze affecting parts of the region.

Frameworks in development

Amidst these climate conditions, the five countries recognized the impact of climate change and emphasized the importance of strong action to improve vigilance, preventive measures, and fire suppression procedures.

During the two-day meeting, the countries also reaffirmed their commitment to implement the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and looked forward to finalizing the Haze-free Roadmap 2023-2030, the Asean Peatland Management Strategy, and the Investment Framework for sustainable land management.

The establishment of the Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) in Indonesia was also highlighted.

The 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COP-18) is scheduled for August 2023 in Lao PDR. While the 25th MSC is slated to take place in Thailand in 2024.

Uniform Air Quality Indicators

While the meeting tackled some of the issues that allow transboundary haze pollution to persist, it appeared that the countries are still yet to implement measures such as the standardization of air quality indicators in the region. 

“There needs to be a uniform way of monitoring and reporting the severity of haze,” Associate Professor Dr. Helena Varkkey from Universiti Malaya told Vatican News. 

Dr. Varkkey, an expert in environmental politics, was part of a group of experts commissioned by Asean to carry out an assessment of the achievements of the first Asean road map for combating transboundary haze in the region from 2016 to 2020.

“If you look at the Asean road map, they have indicators like, ‘decrease in transboundary haze area’, but what does that mean? What's the baseline? All of this needs to be clearly defined,” she said. 

Asean members currently lack uniform, region-wide guidelines on air quality indicators. Dr. Varkkey said that at present, “each country follows its own methodology.” Thailand uses the Air Quality Index (AQI), Singapore uses the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), and Malaysia has the Air Pollution Index. 

“Each index needs to be comparable with each other so we can better monitor, report, and verify haze at a regional level. When you understand the problem better, you can go towards a solution,” she added.