Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei face a high risk of severe haze this year due to hot and dry weather conditions, biofuel demand and economic pressures, a research institute said Wednesday. The Singapore Institute of International Affairs said it was the second time it had issued a red risk rating since launching its Haze Outlook report in 2019. The previous red risk rating was in 2023, Reuters reported. Here are some details: August to September is the peak danger period for haze in the Southeast Asian region, driven by the El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole weather phenomena, the report said. The return of El Niño is expected to create a longer and stronger dry season at a time when fire preparedness could be adversely affected by economic uncertainty and cost pressures. The SIIA said rising costs of fertilizer and fuel as a result of the Iran war could lead to unsustainable activity such as the use of fire rather than machinery to clear land and dispose of waste. Land use could also intensify as demand for biofuels rises due to energy supply disruptions. "This trend will continue even if the US-Iran agreement holds, as countries now want energy independence," said SIIA associate director Khor Yu-Leng. ASEAN cooperation and sustainable land management will be critical to reducing risks, the report said.
