Indonesia Coordinates with ASEAN to Tackle Forest Fire Haze
The Indonesian government is strengthening communication and coordination with Southeast Asian nations following forest and land fires (karhutla) and the spread of haze observed in several regions of Indonesia and the Southeast Asian area. Vahd Nabyl, Spokesperson II for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Indonesia continues to enhance domestic forest fire control measures while simultaneously coordinating with neighbouring countries to address the impact of haze that potentially crosses national borders.
“Indonesia always prioritises cooperation with neighbouring countries and maintains good bilateral relations, particularly in facing environmental issues that have transboundary impacts, such as haze,” Vint said in a statement on Saturday (5/9/2026).
He emphasised that Indonesia, alongside regional nations, is also encouraging increased vigilance in facing dry weather conditions influenced by climate patterns. This cooperation is deemed essential to anticipate the rising risk of forest fires and their impact on air quality across the region.
In addition to bilateral communication, Indonesia is utilising the ASEAN cooperation framework to ensure that haze management is conducted in a coordinated manner. This mechanism refers to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), which serves as the regional framework for addressing transboundary haze pollution.
Vahd noted that the AATHP mechanism is operational, including through regular meetings to discuss haze developments and coordinate follow-up actions among ASEAN member states. “Regular meetings to discuss haze issues and the coordination of follow-up actions continue to be conducted,” he said.
In recent developments, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), acting as the Interim ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC), has implemented a regional alert status at Alert Level 3 since 26 August 2026. Under this status, all ASEAN nations are requested to increase reporting and coordination regarding haze conditions.
ASEC has requested that ASEAN member states submit daily Situation Reports (SITREP), including trajectory maps or the direction of smoke movement. These reports are then redistributed to all National Focal Points of ASEAN member states to support monitoring and coordinated management within the region.
Vahd ensured that Indonesia is fulfilling its daily reporting obligations and the actions required under Alert Level 3 in accordance with the MAJER (Monitoring, Assessment, and Joint Emergency Response) SOP. MAJER is an ASEAN procedure that governs the monitoring, assessment, and joint response to transboundary haze emergency conditions.