Singapore hosts forum to create haze free ASEAN
Singapore hosts forum to create haze free ASEAN
28 October 2009
published by news.xinhuanet.com
Singapore — A haze free Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must depend on a coordinated multi-sectoral approach and long term commitment, a Singapore official said on Wednesday.
He said that the ASEAN region has been affected by transboundary smoke haze arising from land, forest and peatland fires, which have affected the social and economic well-being and raised environmental and health concerns amongst the people.
He indicated that the forum is not only to discuss and review existing measures and initiatives to tackle the fires, but also help in exploring how the partners can replicate good practices and models of collaboration.
Citing the example of the Indonesia-Singapore collaboration in Indonesia’s Jambi province, he emphasized that it is important for all stakeholders to play their part in tackling the fires, and that much of the success was due to the active participation of all partners.
He also revealed that the two countries have since embarked on two new programs in preventing and mitigating fires and urged all to continue with their effort and that the hard work today will also go a long way in creating a more sustainable environment for the future generation.
