Indonesia and Singapore Launch Task Force to Combat Haze
The two nations will collaborate to tackle illegal land burning, a primary cause of toxic smoke blanketing Southeast Asia.
Indonesia and Singapore have agreed to establish a joint task force aimed at combating the illegal burning of land that has created a toxic haze across Southeast Asia. The agreement came Tuesday during a meeting in Jakarta between Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir.
The task force will focus on strengthening enforcement of existing regulations and exploring new measures to address the issue. The haze, a recurring problem during the dry season, is largely caused by fires set to clear land for agriculture, particularly in western Indonesia. This year's fires have been exacerbated by hotter and drier conditions linked to the El Niño weather pattern.
"El Niño is a natural phenomenon, but the burning of the forest and land is caused by human actions," Balakrishnan stated. "We have a responsibility to ensure the health of all the citizens of Indonesia and Singapore. Therefore, I hope that the Indonesian and Singapore governments will work together to overcome this challenge."
The transboundary haze has raised significant health concerns and led to public outcry in Singapore, Malaysia, and other ASEAN nations, prompting school closures and disrupting daily life. Skies in parts of Borneo have turned orange, and the smoke has spread to neighboring countries.
Singapore has previously sent warning letters to 10 Indonesian companies suspected of links to forest fires. Indonesian authorities have also reported taking legal action against hundreds of individuals and over 50 companies, with some already convicted under Indonesian law.
Nasir welcomed Singapore's offer to share data on companies involved in the fires, stating, "Smoke can cross borders, so can money. That is why we must follow the money trail these companies have left behind."
Official figures indicate that between January and July, more than 2,020 square kilometers of land were burned in Indonesia. By the end of August, the Nusantara Atlas project estimated that nearly 8,960 square kilometers had been consumed by fires.