A private Singaporean think tank, the Singapore Institute of\nInternational Affairs (SIIA), has warned that Southeast Asia will face a\nsevere threat of transboundary haze through to the end of 2026. The\n\u2018red\u2019 alert is expected to peak between August and September due to a\nfierce El Ni\u00f1o, which is causing hotter and drier conditions.<\/p>\n
In its 17-page Haze Outlook 2026 report, the transboundary haze is\nforecast to affect Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and particularly\nIndonesia. This is only the second time the SIIA has issued its highest\nrisk rating since launching the annual outlook in 2019, following a\nsimilar assessment in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u2018Haze returned to Singapore that year as hotspots surged in parts of\nSumatra amid dry conditions caused by El Ni\u00f1o. The transboundary haze\nlargely originates from forest and peatland fires in the region,\u2019 the\nreport stated, as published by CNA on Wednesday (24\/6\/2026).<\/p>\n
The SIIA noted that the heightened risk this year is also driven by\ndisruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which are increasing cost pressures\non the agricultural sector due to fuel shortages and soaring fertiliser\nprices. This boosts demand for biofuels, raising concerns that some\nproducers may expand plantations by resorting to cheaper but\nunsustainable land-clearing methods, such as burning.<\/p>\n
\u2018This high-risk season also coincides with tightening budgets amid\nglobal economic uncertainty. In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto\nwill face his first high-risk dry season,\u2019 the report highlighted,\nreferring specifically to Indonesia. \u2018The Ministry of Forestry and\nprovincial governments have warned that budgets for fire management are\nunder pressure amid public spending cuts,\u2019 it added.<\/p>\n
SIIA Chairman Simon Tay stressed the need for preventive action. He\nemphasised that much can still be done to avert the worst-case scenario\nand strengthen climate, energy, and food resilience, as well as regional\ncooperation. \u2018The challenge is to ensure that sustainable practices are\nmaintained throughout the supply chain, including by small and medium\nenterprises that may be operating under increasingly tight economic\npressures,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution\nControl has been urged to strengthen policy coordination on haze\nmitigation and land management. The centre was also asked to complement\nscientific data and satellite haze monitoring provided by the ASEAN\nSpecialised Meteorological Centre in Singapore.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singapore-think-tank-issues-disaster-warning-for-southeast-asia-highlights-indonesia-1782316351", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }