Southeast Asia continues to face persistent challenges from transboundary haze pollution, despite decades of diplomatic efforts and regional cooperation. Since 1994, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has seen at least eight severe haze episodes, including the current crisis, highlighting ongoing difficulties in effectively addressing the root causes of the problem.
ASEAN’s primary framework for combating haze is the 2002 Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), which aims to prevent and monitor haze pollution through coordinated national actions and strong regional collaboration. The pact underscores the commitment of member states to work collectively in mitigating the environmental and health impacts of fires largely linked to land clearing, particularly in peatland areas.
To complement the AATHP, ASEAN environment ministers launched the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative in 2003. This initiative seeks to promote sustainable peatland management to reduce fire risk and the resulting haze, supported further by two phases of the Peatland Management Strategy that span from 2006 to 2030. These efforts reflect a longer-term regional push to address the ecological practices that contribute to haze formation.
In addition to environmental measures, ASEAN members adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in 2012, which recognizes the right of peoples in the region to a “safe, clean and sustainable environment.” This declaration establishes a human rights framework for environmental protection, adding social and legal dimensions to the haze debate.
Despite these agreements and strategies, critics argue that ASEAN’s approach, characterized by patient diplomacy and respect for national sovereignty, has not delivered significant progress in preventing recurrent haze crises. While the mechanisms promote regional harmony and dialogue, enforcement and on-the-ground implementation remain weak, limiting effectiveness in curbing fires and pollution sources.
Efforts are underway to fully operationalize the Jakarta-based ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control, intended to enhance coordination and rapid response to haze outbreaks. However, the centre’s full capabilities have yet to be realized, and questions remain over its capacity to enforce compliance among member states.
As the region grapples with balancing economic development and environmental sustainability, the question persists whether ASEAN can achieve a haze-free Southeast Asia by 2030. Ongoing haze episodes underscore the complex interplay of environmental, economic, and political factors that must be navigated to realize that goal.