Singapore to step up regional fight against haze as it prepares for 2027 Asean chairmanship

People visit Merlion Park in Singapore on October 16, 2026. Singapore pledged to strengthen the implementation of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) as it prepares to assume the Chairmanship in 2027, said Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu. — AFP pic

First Published: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2026 4:29 PM MYT

SINGAPORE, Nov 3 — Singapore pledged to strengthen the implementation of the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) as it prepares to assume the Chairmanship in 2027, said Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu.

She said the Republic will work towards establishing the Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACCTHPC) in Indonesia to strengthen cooperation and coordination in managing land and forest fires, as well as transboundary haze. 

“This will only come into force after six Asean member states have ratified the establishment agreement of the ACCTHPC. 

“Singapore will submit our instrument of ratification for the establishment agreement in the next few days, and we will strongly encourage other Asean member states to do so,” she said during a question-and-answer session in Parliament on Tuesday. 

She was responding to questions from several Members of Parliament on how the government intends to address the transboundary haze issue at the regional level.

The session was live-streamed via the Digital Development and Information Ministry’s YouTube channel.

According to Fu, Singapore will also work with Asean member states to enhance the implementation of relevant initiatives under other Asean sectoral pillars that tackle the root causes of transboundary haze.

These include initiatives such as sustainable land and peatland management and guidelines on crop burning. 

“Some Asean member states have indicated that they will raise the transboundary haze issue at the upcoming Asean meetings. 

“Singapore will support these discussions and share how we intend to act against companies responsible for the haze,” she added. — Bernama