Transboundary Haze: Defending Singapore’s Air Quality

On October 7 2023, Singapore’s Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reportedly exceeded 100 in a first since 2019, indicating that the air quality had fallen to ‘unhealthy’ levels due to transboundary haze. Notorious for causing local haze outbreaks, the clearing of Indonesia’s peatlands has decelerated somewhat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, intermittent haze outbreaks will likely return to bedevil Singaporeans.

Indonesian peatlands, which make up 36% of the global total, are rich carbon sinks being destroyed using slash-and-burn techniques. Simultaneously, the recently restarted El Nino weather phenomenon is creating drier and warmer conditions that have exacerbated the resulting fires. Compounding this is the likelihood of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which will increase sea temperatures and make peatlands more likely to burn. 

Exacerbated by these phenomena, peatland fires emit carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change, which then optimizes the haze’s occurrence and spread, creating a vicious cycle. Consequently, severe haze causes externalities like school closures and flight cancellations while harming our cardiovascular and respiratory health.

This grim outlook presents Singapore with a multilayered crisis with geopolitical constraints. Our limited jurisdiction complicates investigations into potential culprits, while our minute diplomatic clout relative to Indonesia necessarily diminishes our ability to pressure them to adopt more stringent enforcement regimes.

Nevertheless, there remain possible solutions that Singaporeans, local businesses, civil society organizations and the Government should seriously consider.

Firstly, boycotts of offending businesses may be initiated. Having shifted activities indoors and switched on air purifiers, Singaporean consumers must collectively exercise their right to political consumerism. Boycotts, especially with social media, amplify the backlash against the irresponsible corporations at fault. Importantly, well-organised boycotts will damage a company’s profits, directly prompting those responsible to act. Environmental groups here should collaborate closely with their Indonesian counterparts to map the country in lieu of governmental efforts, allowing for the accurate identification of guilty companies. On a personal level, Singaporeans should research and avoid products linked with haze, purchasing environmentally certified goods instead.

While Asia Pulp and Paper was successfully targeted in a widely reported 2015 nationwide boycott during the concurrent haze crisis, recent reports allege that it has resumed deforestation efforts in Indonesia. Clearly, more Singaporeans need to be made aware of the primary culprits and boycotts must be sustained between haze outbreaks until the relevant companies enact permanent safeguards. Further, local enterprises must tighten their procurement rules to exclude unsustainable suppliers. Particularly, Singaporean banks must ensure that businesses with unscrupulous environmental records are not financed. Government agencies already exclusively use printing paper certified with the Singapore Green Label after 2015 procurement policy changes included environmental certification requirements, establishing a benchmark that the private sector ought to follow.

On the legal front, amendments may be made to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 to enhance the state’s enforcement capabilities. The onus must be imposed on companies to regularly release comprehensive and precise reports absolving them of culpability. Famed for its transparent and strict but fair corporate law regime, Singapore must emphasise sustainable environmental laws that hold companies liable for both their actions and inaction, while encouraging the rest of ASEAN to emulate its approach. Moreover, adding a nationwide emissions trading scheme to our regulatory framework could financially incentivise all businesses to disclose their extraterritorial activities, ensuring proper surveillance and mitigation of air pollution. Nevertheless, if another major haze outbreak occurs, it may be time for local environmental groups to initiate class action lawsuits against those responsible.

Ultimately, haze is tantamount to poisoning the air. Singapore should utilize its legal and financial leverage to defend its air quality, thus safeguarding Singaporeans’ health at home while setting stringent ethical standards for environmental justice abroad.

Bibliography:

1. Chan, Gabrielle. “PSI Hits Unhealthy Range in Singapore for First Time Since 2019; Govt Task Force Convenes.” The Straits Times, October 9, 2023. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/psi-hits-unhealthy-range-in-singapore-as-air-quality-worsens.

2. Chua, Charlene, Joseph Ricafort, and Ryan Tan. “Why The Haze Has Reached Singapore’s Shores Again.” The Straits Times, October 7, 2023. https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2023/10/haze-returns-singapore-2023/index.html?shell.

3. Ecologi. “Peatland Restoration and Conservation in Indonesia,” n.d. https://ecologi.com/projects/peatland-restoration-in-indonesia.

4. Hwa, Ang Peng. “Commentary: As Haze Season Looms, What More Can Singapore Do to Clear the Air?” CNA, September 13, 2023. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singapore-haze-pollution-transboundary-forest-fires-hotspots-2015-crisis-3761706.

5. “Three Years Without Haze, but Singapore Should Not Celebrate Just Yet.” TODAY, August 2, 2019. https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/three-years-without-haze-singapore-should-not-celebrate-just-yet.

6. Jong, Hans Nicholas. “Deforestation in Indonesia Hits Record Low, but Experts Fear a Rebound.” Mongabay Environmental News, July 23, 2021. https://news.mongabay.com/2021/03/2021-deforestation-in-indonesia-hits-record-low-but-experts-fear-a-rebound/.

7. “Report Alleges APP Continues Deforestation 10 Years After Pledge to Stop.” Mongabay Environmental News, November 16, 2023. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/report-alleges-app-continues-deforestation-10-years-after-pledge-to-stop/.

8. Quah, Euston, Wai‐Mun Chia, and Thomas Tan. “Economic Impact of 2015 Transboundary Haze on Singapore.” Journal of Asian Economics 75 (August 1, 2021): 101329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2021.101329.

9. Seah, Sharon. “Commentary: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Haze and Climate Change in Southeast Asia.” CNA, October 12, 2023. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/southeast-asia-haze-pollution-climate-change-indonesia-burn-peatland-government-business-3837296.