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South East Asia Haze: Wildfires in Indonesia Cause Toxic Smog Across Region
Overview
Indonesia is experiencing its worst wildfire season in a decade, driven by an unusually strong El Niño and illegal slash-and-burn farming practices. The resulting toxic haze has severely affected air quality in Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, leading to school closures, suspended business licences, and cross-border political tensions.
Key points
- Over 1 million wildfire hotspots and 900,000 hectares of land have been recorded in Indonesia this year.
- The intensive fires are largely attributed to the illegal agricultural practice of slash-and-burn land clearing.
- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has condemned the practice as ecological terrorism, with authorities suspending the operating licences of 26 companies.
- Greenpeace reports have linked Singaporean and Malaysian businesses to Indonesian plots experiencing wildfires, though the companies deny involvement.
- Cross-border tensions have arisen following remarks from an Indonesian communications official regarding the supply of oxygen to neighbouring countries.
- Civil society groups in Indonesia have filed class action lawsuits against the government, demanding that the haze be declared a national disaster.