Singapore to champion regional haze action as 2027 ASEAN chair

Singapore is set to ratify a landmark agreement for a regional haze control centre based in Indonesia, underscoring its determination to strengthen collective action against transboundary haze across Southeast Asia. The move comes as Singapore prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, positioning air quality management as a key priority for the bloc.

The regional centre, hosted by Indonesia, will serve as a coordinating body to address haze episodes that regularly affect multiple countries across the region. The initiative reflects growing recognition among ASEAN members that combating transboundary pollution requires sustained institutional mechanisms and enhanced cooperation.

Singapore's ratification follows Indonesia's decline of a firefighting assistance offer extended by the city-state in October during earlier haze episodes. The shift in approach highlights Jakarta's preference for building long-term regional infrastructure rather than ad-hoc aid arrangements, particularly as transboundary haze has become an increasingly recurrent challenge driven by land-clearing activities and peat fires across the region.

As 2027 ASEAN chair, Singapore is expected to advocate for stronger binding commitments among member states on air quality management and fire prevention. The establishment of the regional control centre is intended to improve early warning systems, coordinate cross-border responses, and facilitate information-sharing among participating nations.

The agreement aligns with ASEAN's broader sustainability agenda and reflects evolving diplomatic priorities within the bloc as climate-related challenges intensify across Southeast Asia.