Transboundary Haze: Indonesia Steps Up Regional Coordination Through ASEAN Mechanisms
By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Indonesia continues to coordinate with neighbouring countries and utilise ASEAN mechanisms to address transboundary haze, while intensifying domestic efforts to control forest and land fires as smoke spreads across parts of Southeast Asia.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vahd Nabyl said Indonesia placed importance on cooperation with neighbouring countries and maintaining good bilateral relations, particularly in addressing environmental issues with cross-border impacts such as haze.
“Together with countries in the region, Indonesia is also stepping up vigilance against dry weather linked to prevailing climate conditions,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
Haze from fires in Indonesia has spread across parts of Southeast Asia, affecting neighbouring Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei as well as the Philippines.
In Malaysia, an emergency was declared throughout Serian Division in Sarawak on Friday after the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeded 500, while several other areas in the state have also recorded hazardous or very unhealthy air quality.
Vahd said Indonesia was also using the ASEAN framework to address the haze, with mechanisms under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) already in place and regular meetings held to discuss the issue and coordinate follow-up measures.
He said the ASEAN Secretariat, acting as the Interim ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC), had maintained Alert Level 3 for the region since Aug 26, requiring ASEAN member states to submit daily Situation Reports, including haze trajectory maps, for distribution to national focal points.
Vahd said Indonesia had fulfilled all daily reporting obligations and mandatory actions under Alert Level 3 in accordance with ASEAN’s Monitoring, Assessment and Joint Emergency Response procedures.
This included proactively providing data on hotspots, environmental conditions, indications of haze movement and forest and land fire control efforts.
“Indonesia also continues to push for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control to become fully operational,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
