TACKLING TRANSBOUNDARY HAZE

TACKLING TRANSBOUNDARY HAZE: 1.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources in light of the recent haze situation (a) what help has Singapore offered Indonesia in battling the fires; (b) whether Singapore with other ASEAN member states will push Indonesia to ratify the 2002 ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution; and (c) how can the expectations of Singaporeans on air quality and the environment be managed.

2.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources with the arrival of the transboundary haze (a) what is the Ministry doing to engage the neighbouring countries on managing the hot spots; (b) what is the long-term solution that is being mapped out with neighbouring countries; (c) how has the haze affected the health of older Singaporeans; and (d) how has the haze impacted on our economy, in particular tourist arrivals.

The Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 1 to 2 together?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, the transboundary haze creates health problems for our citizens and has wide-spread implications on our economy, tourism and the transportation/aviation industry. The elderly, especially those with asthma or a pre-existing heart or lung disease, may suffer from chest discomfort or breathing problems such as shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing. Prolonged periods of haze also

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lead to economic losses for Singapore. The losses are from a rise in hospitalisation and treatment costs, losses in tourism, losses in productivity because people take time off from work and losses in recreational opportunities.

As the period of haze was short this year, any impact on our industries, including tourism, would have been minimal. However, if the haze were prolonged, there would have been adverse impact on economic activities and health, as was seen in the 2006 haze episode.

Sir, we thus take a serious view of the haze situation. To minimise the adverse impacts of smoke haze on Singaporeans, an Inter-agency Haze Task Force (HTF) has been established since 1994 to co-ordinate the national action plans to mitigate the impact of haze and put in place measures to inform the public during a smoke haze episode. For example, hourly updates of the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and the relevant health advisory are given when the haze worsens. When the PSI reaches the unhealthy range, which is above 100, a dedicated hotline will be set up to answer any queries from the public. When the PSI exceeds 150, the public will be advised to use face masks. When the reading reaches the hazardous range, which is above 200, the HTF will consider stoppage of outdoor activities and closure of schools.

Since the 2006 haze episode, Singapore has actively promoted regional and international efforts to address the haze problem. That year, Singapore initiated the Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand to enhance haze collaboration in the southern ASEAN region. The MSC has met 10 times since then. One of its objectives is to assist Indonesia in implementing its Plan of Action (PoA) to

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combat haze. The MSC closely monitors the hotspot situation in the region. The MSC has organised forums that raise awareness among international organisations, non-governmental organisations and the private sector on the need to share expertise and offer resources in addressing land and forest fires.

On the bilateral front, our collaboration in Jambi province has progressed well. Eight action programmes, covering initiatives ranging from haze monitoring and assessment to fire fighting and suppression capabilities as well as capacity building on sustainable land-farming practices, have been completed since 2007. Thus far, we note that the number of hotspots have been low in Jambi Province and, in particular, Muaro-Jambi Regency, relative to other fire-prone provinces and districts in Indonesia. Singapore’s initiatives are being implemented in these areas.

We are thus heartened that our efforts over the last few years have contributed towards addressing the haze challenges in Indonesia. We believe it is important to replicate the good experiences gained from the Indonesia-Singapore collaboration in the Jambi province. This could be achieved by continuing to organise forums that can help facilitate exchange of experience and best practices between local governments from the fire-prone provinces as well as with regional NGOs, international organisations and think tanks.

On 13th October this year, I attended the 6th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which was held to review the national, sub-regional and regional activities to address land and forest fires in the region. We cautioned environment ministers present that periods of dry conditions may occur, and

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urged ASEAN member states to remain vigilant and to continuously monitor as well as implement haze prevention activities.

Together with the other environment ministers, Singapore also urged Indonesia to ratify the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. With Indonesia remaining the only ASEAN country yet to ratify this Agreement, we will continue with our ASEAN neighbours to call on Indonesia to consider doing so expeditiously.

When Malaysia and Singapore were struck by haze on 19th October, I wrote immediately and followed up with a call to Indonesia’s State Minister of Environment Professor Gusti Muhammad Hatta to register our concerns on the worsening haze situation. I was assured that Indonesia had sent a team of officers to the areas affected by land and forest fires to coordinate the fire-fighting efforts on the ground. I also reiterated our offer of assistance to augment Indonesia’s fire-fighting efforts if needed. On 24th October, the air quality was back in the good range again as the fires subsided in Sumatra. Indonesia has therefore made commendable efforts to prevent the regional haze situation from worsening this year.

Singapore is currently chair of the MSC for two years until 2012. We will use our chairmanship to work more closely with our regional neighbours to put in place more measures to prevent potential land and forest fires. This will avert the need for huge resources required by affected countries to tackle the problems after transboundary haze occurs.

Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. We are lucky that for this round, haze visited Singapore for a very short period. I have two supplementary questions for the Minister.

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In view of the constant remark by Indonesian politicians that we should be grateful for the oxygen provided rather than complain about the haze problems, does the Minister think that Indonesia has the political will to solve the haze problem? Question two: despite the various reminders, telephone calls, cautionary notes that Minister gives to his counterpart, does he think that these have been effective? As what we can see – and if I may describe their attitude by using a Malay proverb – bagai mencurah air di daun keladi . Literally translated, it means "pouring water on yam leaves" which is to say it is of no use.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, as to whether or not they have the political will to solve the problem is not something for me to answer. We know for a fact that the Indonesian government has a clear plan of action to cut back the forest fires in 35 fire-prone provinces across Indonesia over the next five years. As I have mentioned in my reply, what we want to do in the ASEAN region is to work with Indonesia to help them to implement those programmes. In fact, they have called for assistance across the ASEAN countries in order to implement the plan of action. As to whether it is being executed on the ground, this is a matter which we have to ask our Indonesian colleagues to clarify.

Our relationship with the Indonesian government in relation to our joint project in Jambi has been a good one. We have close collaboration not only with the central authorities but also with the provincial authorities. As I mentioned in my reply, that has helped to reduced the hot spots in the Muaro-Jambi Regency. So it shows that they have a plan of action and there is collaboration with the regional countries. It shows that it can be done and we can solve the problem together.

As to whether the reminders have been effective, I suppose the answer is

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that we will continue to remind them that they have an obligation to the rest of the countries in the region to do their part. So I cannot tell the Member anything else, other than the fact that I will continue to remind my colleagues in the region when we meet again in Singapore next year for the 11th MSC Meeting to inform that this is a concern for all of us and that they should do something about it.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo (West Coast): Thank you, Sir. I have three supplementary questions. One is: has Singapore considered cloud-seeding as a solution to the haze problem and, if it has, would it offer the same expertise to Indonesia?

Secondly, during the haze Singaporeans tended to stay indoors, shut their windows and for better ventilation, Singaporeans would switch on fans and air-conditioners. I wonder whether a study has been undertaken to ascertain whether there is a spike in electricity bills during the haze situation? Will the Government consider giving electricity rebates to cope with higher electricity bills when the haze prevails in Singapore?

Thirdly, what legal rights do average Singaporeans have against transboundary pollution like the haze situation?

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, to answer the last question first: as neighbours in the region, we have a right and that is why there is an agreement – the Transboundary Haze Pollution Agreement – which all the nine countries of ASEAN except Indonesia have signed and ratified. If Indonesia were to ratify the haze agreement, which has already come into force, it can be fully implemented and therefore, we can monitor the situation.

Cloud-seeding is normally used whenever you want to have rain. In this particular instance, of course, if there is rain it would help in terms of easing the haze.

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We have done our internal studies and have found that cloud-seeding is not very effective even for rain-making purposes in Singapore.

As for electricity bills, we have not really monitored it. And as for the rebates, I think the Member knows the answer – it is a flat "no" [ Laughter ]. The most important thing is that Singaporeans must continue to prepare for this eventuality and make the necessary adjustments.

Mr Speaker: Er Lee, last question.

Er Lee Bee Wah: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister this: can we bring this issue to international organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) because any prolonged haze will affect many Singaporeans' health?

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Perhaps the Member can ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when he answers the third question after this. The MSC Forum was first organised in Singapore in 2009 and we are going to continue with the MSC Forum. The advantage of the MSC Forum is that it is open to the international organisations, the NGOs and the think tanks. This will allow international organisations that have an interest to come into the region and work together with the regional partners. So, I think that is a very good platform for us to share best practices, clarify the matter to the international community so that help can be made available in tackling this problem.