Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

5-2017

Abstract

Toxic ‘haze’ from fires, often burning over dry peatland in Indonesia, has affected millions across Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as parts of the Philippines and Thailand. For Singapore in particular, this slash-and-burn method of clearing land in Indonesia to cultivate crops such as oil palm has been an annual problem since 1972. However, 2015 stands out as the year Singapore experienced one of its worst episodes of haze pollution. Air quality based on the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) plummeted to the ‘very unhealthy’ and ‘hazardous ranges’ for close to 50 days. Singapore suffered an estimated SGD $700 million in economic losses in 2015 as a result of, inter alia, the closure of schools, hotels, tourist attractions and major sporting events. Moreover, the large quantities of carbon dioxide released set back Southeast Asia’s efforts to mitigate climate change. A scientific study has shown that the 2015 fires in Indonesia released nearly one gigaton of greenhouse gases. Daily emissions during that haze period were even higher than that of all the European Union member states put together.

Keywords

Haze, air pollution, Singapore, Indonesia, transboundary issues, pollution law, environment law

Discipline

Asian Studies | Environmental Law

Research Areas

Public Interest Law, Community and Social Justice

Publication

Business and Human Rights Journal

Volume

2

Issue

2

First Page

325

Last Page

333

ISSN

2057-0198

Identifier

10.1017/bhj.2017.10

Edition

9

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Embargo Period

7-31-2017

Copyright Owner and License

Author

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1017/bhj.2017.10

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