Indonesia assures ASEAN neighbours a haze-free 2017
Indonesia has assured that there will be no transboundary haze problems plaguing Southeast Asia’s skyline this year, said Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry advisor Arief Yuwono.
Haze brought on by Indonesian peat fires blankets the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 2016 (Source: asiancorrespondent.com)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Indonesia has assuredthat there will be no transboundary haze problems plaguing Southeast Asia’sskyline this year, said Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry advisorArief Yuwono.
Speaking at the 19th Technical WorkingGroup and Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary HazePollution in Kuala Lumpur on May 18, he said that the prediction was based on2016’s record as the year saw almost zero recurrence of haze.
Singapore reported only one day of haze while Malaysia,three days, he said, noting that in 2017, Indonesia already made observationand comparison to the previous year.
Arief Yuwono added that with a weaker El Nino andthe system already activated on the ground, Indonesia anticipates that thecountry can repeat its performance in 2016.
Indonesia has also successfully implementedstringent measures to curb forest fires following complaints from its neighbouringcountries in 2015.
At the meeting, representatives from Malaysia,Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore said these countries stay ready tohelp Indonesia cope with emergencies if requested, and reaffirmed theircommitment to working towards a Haze Free ASEAN by 2020.-VNA
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Haze brought on by Indonesian peat fires blankets the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur in 2016
