Asean nations are pressuring Indonesia to better control the widespread haze pollution caused by forest fires and agricultural burning in Indonesia, which has affected the health and environment of surrounding countries. While Indonesia cites domestic challenges and political changes for delays in ratifying agreements, Asean countries want stronger enforcement of laws to reduce hotspots and transboundary haze, including using satellite data to identify responsible areas. Indonesia insists it has spent over $2 million on control projects but neighbors seek reduced fires and enforcement of pollution limits.

1. Asean pressures Indonesia over rise in haze pollution
Published : Saturday, September 24th, 2011 By : Bangkok Post
Asean nations are pressuring Indonesia to control transboundary haze which has caused widespread
health and environmental impacts in the region.
According to the information presented at the ministerial meeting on transboundary haze pollution in
Bangkok yesterday, most of the hotspots, caused by forest fires and farmland burning, are in
Indonesia.
The meeting was attended by environment ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and
Thailand.
Thailand’s southern provinces have also been affected by transboundary haze comprised of tiny dust
particles from forest fires and burning in open areas.
“When the haze started to affect the South, we wrote to Indonesia to ask for an explanation about the
situation,” said Pollution Control Department chief Supat Wangwongwattana. “However, Jakarta did
not respond.” Malaysia and Singapore are also affected, he added.
“We’d like Indonesia to better inform other countries about the transboundary haze situation,” Mr Supat
said.
Asean countries have made a commitment to reduce the number of haze hotspots by 20% from the
baseline year in 2006. This number had reduced from 29,900 in the sub-region of five countries in
2006 to only 8,000 last year. However, the number of hotspots jumped back up to 17,600 this year.
Indonesia is the main hotspot source as large swathes of peatland have been transformed into mono-
crop plantations, including rubber and oil palm plantations. Mr Supat said the sub-region countries
would like Indonesia to ratify the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Indonesia is the
only country that has not ratified the pact, which is a legally-binding tool for controlling haze pollution.
The agreement also covers the Asean haze fund, which each member donates to on a voluntary basis.
Indonesia cited a change of parliament as a reason for the delay of the ratification procedure, Mr Supat
added.
Singapore’s environment minister Vivian Balarkrishnan, who chaired the meeting yesterday, said the
Bangkok talks were fruitful, but more work needed to be done on reducing the number of peatland
fires, and to push for the enforcement of laws limiting the trans-boundary haze.
The minister suggested the use of satellite maps to identify the haze hotspots so that the countries in
which they are situated can take responsibility and step up their control measures.
Arief Yuwono, Indonesia’s deputy of degradation control and climate change from the Ministry of
Environment, insisted Jakarta has done its best to prevent the haze.
The country had spent more than US$2 million (61.8 million baht) on haze pollution control projects.
“We have our own plan to revise the national framework for suppression and mitigation of
transboundary haze pollution, including law enforcement measures,” he said.
Source: http://www.eco-business.com/news/asean-pressures-indonesia-over-rise-in-haze-pollution/