Transboundary Pollution Issues in Southeast Asia - 2001-2020s Summary

Transboundary Pollution Issues in Southeast Asia - 2001-2020s Summary

In 2001, forest fires on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan caused massive haze to spread to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, resulting in severe transboundary pollution. The main causes were slash-and-burn agriculture and illegal logging. ASEAN adopted a transboundary air pollution agreement to promote fire control and information sharing.

By the 2020s, forest fires will be spreading to more than 500,000 hectares annually. In Singapore, PM2.5 concentrations exceed eight times the standard, reaching "very unhealthy" levels. Economic losses amount to $1.6 billion per year, and in Thailand, tourist numbers are down 20% from the previous year. companies such as APP and Hitachi, Ltd. are using technology to combat the problem, but challenges remain.