Singapore to push for stronger action against haze as 2027 ASEAN chair

Singapore will ratify an agreement to establish a regional haze control centre in Indonesia, after Jakarta declined its offer of firefighting assistance in October.

A cyclist rides past the Marina Bay Sands as it's shrouded in haze at midday on Oct 20, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

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SINGAPORE: Singapore will work with other ASEAN states to strengthen the implementation of the region’s transboundary haze agreement as it assumes the bloc’s chairmanship in 2027, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Tuesday (Nov 3).

Responding to parliamentary questions on the ongoing haze pollution in parliament on Tuesday, Ms Fu said some member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have indicated they will raise the transboundary haze issue at upcoming regional meetings.

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

As incoming ASEAN chair, Singapore will also work towards establishing a coordinating centre in Indonesia to strengthen cooperation and coordination in managing the fires and transboundary haze, said Ms Fu. The centre will come into force only after six member states ratify the agreement to establish it.

“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,” said Ms Fu.

The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, adopted in 2002, is the region’s first legally binding pact dedicated to the issue.

Malaysia recently urged the regional bloc to revisit the pact , while Singapore and Indonesia announced on Oct 27 a joint task force to probe firms linked to forest fires.

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Beyond the agreement, Singapore will work with other ASEAN member states to step up the implementation of initiatives that tackle the root causes of haze, Ms Fu said. These include sustainable land and peatland management, and crop burning guidelines.

Indonesia informed Singapore on Oct 19 that it could handle the situation and did not need foreign assistance, she said.

Ms Fu reiterated that Singapore is ready to help if preventative measures fail and where assistance is needed and welcomed. She added that the Singapore government has communicated this to their Indonesian counterparts at various levels.

“Singapore respects Indonesia's sovereignty and its assessment of its needs, including whether the establishment of a joint regional firefighting task force would be helpful,” she said.

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新加坡将批准一项在印度尼西亚建立区域雾霾控制中心的协议，此前雅加达在 10 月份拒绝了新加坡提供的消防援助。

2026年10月20日中午，一名骑自行车的人经过笼罩在薄雾中的滨海湾金沙酒店。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：新加坡永续发展及环境部长傅海燕周二（11月3日）表示，新加坡将在2027年担任东盟轮值主席国期间，与其他东盟国家合作，加强执行该地区的跨境雾霾协议。

周二，傅女士在国会回答有关持续雾霾污染的议员质询时表示，一些东盟成员国已表示将在即将举行的区域会议上提出跨境雾霾问题。

她补充说：“新加坡将支持这些讨论，并分享我们打算如何对造成雾霾的公司采取行动。”

傅海燕女士表示，作为即将上任的东盟轮值主席国，新加坡还将致力于在印度尼西亚建立一个协调中心，以加强在应对火灾和跨境烟霾方面的合作与协调。该中心只有在六个成员国批准建立该中心的协议后才能生效。

傅女士表示：“新加坡将在未来几天内提交我们对建立该协定的批准书，我们将强烈鼓励其他东盟成员国也这样做。”

2002 年通过的《东盟跨境烟霾污染协定》是该地区首个专门针对该问题的具有法律约束力的条约。

马来西亚最近敦促该区域集团重新审视该协议，而新加坡和印度尼西亚于 10 月 27 日宣布成立联合工作组，调查与森林火灾有关的公司。

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傅女士表示，除了这项协议之外，新加坡还将与其他东盟成员国合作，加强落实各项旨在解决雾霾根源问题的举措，包括可持续的土地和泥炭地管理以及作物焚烧准则。

她说，印尼于10月19日通知新加坡，印尼可以处理这种情况，不需要外国援助。

傅女士重申，如果预防措施失效，新加坡随时准备提供帮助，并在需要和欢迎援助的地方伸出援手。她补充说，新加坡政府已在各个层面与印尼方面沟通了这一意愿。

“新加坡尊重印尼的主权及其对自身需求的评估，包括成立联合区域消防特遣队是否有帮助，”她说。

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