Malaysia Proposes Sustainable Haze Fund to Address ASEAN Air Pollution Issues
Malaysia has put forward a new proposal to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing the haze problem that frequently affects Southeast Asia. This proposal involves the implementation of science diplomacy as well as the establishment of a sustainable haze fund to enhance the effectiveness of efforts under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
This step is taken to ensure that ASEAN countries can work more closely in monitoring and preventing open burning activities, which are the main cause of the haze. Through science diplomacy, Malaysia hopes to share technical data and expertise to find more effective long-term solutions.
Furthermore, the establishment of a sustainable haze fund is seen as a necessity to finance prevention and forest fire suppression activities more rapidly. This fund will help affected member countries obtain the financial resources needed to address crises immediately before they worsen.
The haze problem is a recurring issue that negatively impacts the health of the people, the economic sector, and the air quality in Malaysia and neighboring countries. With more organized cooperation through this new mechanism, it is hoped that the air quality in the region can be better maintained in the future.
This proposal is currently being discussed at the ASEAN level to gain support from other member countries. The Malaysian government is committed to continuing to lead these regional efforts to ensure a healthier and safer environment for all residents in Southeast Asia.