Technology · Vietnam Bureau
ASEAN launches new coordination centre to tackle transboundary haze
Southeast Asian nations are intensifying regional cooperation to address transboundary haze pollution through the establishment of a dedicated coordinating centre. The new mechanism will work alongside existing meteorological frameworks to strengthen member states' collective response to the recurring air quality crisis.
LSN Vietnam ·
ASEAN member states have moved to establish a Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control, marking a significant step in the region's efforts to combat seasonal air quality deterioration that regularly affects millions of residents across Southeast Asia.
The initiative builds upon the existing ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), which has operated from Singapore since 1993. While the ASMC provides weather monitoring and forecasting services, the new coordinating centre is designed to specifically address the cross-border nature of haze pollution by facilitating enhanced cooperation among member states.
Regional officials view the new centre as a critical complement to current mechanisms, aimed at improving information sharing, coordinating emergency responses, and strengthening enforcement of environmental standards across borders. The centre is expected to enhance the region's capacity to predict, prevent, and mitigate the transnational spread of haze pollution during peak seasons.
Transboundary haze, often triggered by agricultural burning and forest fires in neighbouring countries, has emerged as a recurring environmental challenge for ASEAN. Vietnam and other nations have repeatedly experienced periods of hazardous air quality linked to regional sources, underscoring the need for coordinated multilateral action.
The establishment of the coordinating centre reflects ASEAN's broader commitment to strengthening regional climate change responses and advancing cross-border environmental governance within the bloc.