Indonesian Haze Chokes Singapore as Air Quality Index Crosses Unhealthy Levels

Weather conditions across Southeast Asia have been generally dry recently, with widespread forest and land fires continuing to burn in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia. Driven by prevailing southeast or southerly monsoons, the smoke has drifted over Singapore, forming a pale gray haze. According to the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) released by Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) this Tuesday, readings at some monitoring stations have crossed the "unhealthy" threshold. Citizens have been advised to wear dust masks when going outside, and medical institutions have reported a slight increase in patient visits for respiratory irritation. The source of this haze is similar to previous years, linked to large-scale forest and peatland burning in Indonesia.

Most of the wildfires in Indonesia stem from agricultural development and logging, where operators frequently use slash-and-burn methods to rapidly clear vegetation. Burning on peatlands, in particular, generates massive amounts of smoke and particulate matter. The dry season in Kalimantan and Sumatra coincides with a weakening of the tropical monsoon and scarce rainfall, allowing the burned areas to expand rapidly. In recent years, influenced by global warming and the El Nino phenomenon, the severity of droughts in the region has escalated, making it difficult to effectively extinguish the fires in a short period. Although the Indonesian government has stepped up crackdowns and fines against illegal land burning, enforcement still faces numerous challenges due to limited monitoring resources and intertwined local interests.

The transboundary haze problem has a history spanning many years within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Since the 1990s, Indonesia's wildfires have carried dense smoke to neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore during every dry season, delivering a significant blow to public health, transportation, and the tourism industry. To jointly address this issue, ASEAN signed the Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2002 and established a specialized working group on transboundary haze in 2009, aimed at strengthening information sharing and joint firefighting operations. However, the implementation of the agreement is frequently hindered by differences in domestic policies and resource allocation among member states, making it difficult to rapidly de-escalate the situation during severe haze seasons.

For its part, Singapore has adopted multi-layered protective measures. The National Environment Agency issues daily haze advisories and health recommendations. Schools suspend outdoor activities when the index reaches "unhealthy" levels or higher, and dust mask supply stations are being set up in public areas. The government also maintains close contact with relevant Indonesian authorities, urging them to strengthen fire source management and firefighting support. Civil society organizations use social media platforms to remind residents to reduce outdoor exercise and call on businesses to suspend outdoor construction to lower the risk of inhaling harmful particles. While these immediate responses can mitigate health impacts, a fundamental solution to the root causes of the burning is still required in the long run.

From a broader perspective, the haze is not merely environmental pollution; it also involves the interaction between climate change and regional economics. The massive amounts of carbon dioxide and methane released by peatland burning directly exacerbate global warming. At the same time, the haze blocks sunlight, affecting crop photosynthesis and exerting a negative impact on agricultural output. To eradicate transboundary haze in the future, Indonesia must invest greater resources in land-use planning, agricultural transformation, and environmental enforcement, while ASEAN needs to strengthen the agreement's implementation mechanism and establish a more robust transnational emergency response platform. Only through a dual approach combining regional cooperation and domestic governance can the chances of similar haze episodes repeatedly striking Singapore and other neighboring countries truly be reduced.