Singapore plans to collaborate with ASEAN member states to establish a regional coordination centre aimed at tackling transboundary haze pollution during its 2027 ASEAN chairmanship. Announced by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu in Parliament on November 3, the initiative seeks to enhance regional cooperation to prevent forest fires, manage land burning, and address the underlying causes of recurring haze.
The proposed ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control will be based in Indonesia and is part of broader regional measures to deal with cross-border air pollution. The establishment of the centre requires ratification by at least six ASEAN member states. Singapore intends to complete its ratification soon and will encourage others to do the same. Vietnam has already approved the centre’s establishment as of mid-2026.
The centre is expected to facilitate the sharing of firefighting technology, expertise, and resources among ASEAN countries and coordinate emergency assistance during significant forest and land fire incidents. This initiative comes in the wake of forest and plantation fires in Indonesia that led to prolonged periods of unhealthy air quality in Singapore between September and October 2026. During this period, Singapore experienced 18 consecutive days of pollution, with the Pollutant Standards Index reaching a very unhealthy level of 230 in western Singapore on October 18.
In response to the haze, Singapore had previously offered civilian assistance to Indonesia, including firefighting support and cloud seeding operations. However, Indonesia declined this assistance on October 19, stating it could manage the situation independently. Grace Fu emphasized the importance of stronger regional cooperation to prevent similar incidents in the future while respecting Indonesia’s decision.
Additionally, Singapore has taken measures against businesses suspected of contributing to transboundary haze, issuing legal notices to 10 Singapore-registered companies and 10 Indonesian companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. The government is also preparing legislative changes to strengthen haze-related regulations and improve accountability for companies involved in illegal land and forest burning.