What Is Causing Toxic Smoke across Southeast Asia?
2023-10-13
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1The problem of cross-country smoke, or haze, has caused a new disagreement in Southeast Asia.
2Malaysia's environment minister wrote to Indonesia's government this week calling for action to help reduce smoke across Malaysia.
3The letter comes just weeks after countries in Southeast Asia agreed to a haze-free area by 2030.
4In recent weeks, air quality reports in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia have reached readings above 150.
5This puts conditions at a level where people can experience unhealthy effects.
6And those with existing health problems could suffer greater greater health problems.
7On the Indonesian side of Borneo Island, visibility was reduced to less than 10 meters.
8Schools are closed in both Indonesia and Malaysia to reduce the health effects on young children.
9Malaysia has blamed the haze on Indonesia, saying smoke from forest fires is being pushed across the border.
10Every few years, during the dry season, smoke from "slash and burn" land clearing takes over much of the area.
11Slash and burn is a method in agriculture to cut down and burn plants to clear land for planting.
12This method is used to clear land for planting palm trees.
13Products from palm trees include oil, pulp, and paper.
14But this method threatens public health, education, and businesses like tourism.
15Even after Malaysia called on Indonesia this week to avoid "normalizing" the haze, Indonesian officials have denied any responsibility.
16Indonesia's environment minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said recently that forest fires had decreased and no haze was found moving toward any neighboring country.
17She said Indonesia has been dealing with the fires by dropping water bombs from helicopters.
18In the past, Indonesia has taken legal action against companies suspected of illegal burning.
19But each year fires continue with different degrees of severity.
20In 2015 and 2019, Indonesia saw large fires that burned millions of hectares of land.
21It caused record-breaking pollution and some places were surrounded by toxic yellow smoke.
22Under Indonesian law, burning by small, local farmers is permitted.
23But it must happen on an area no greater than two hectares and necessary prevention measures must be in place.
24All large farm holders must follow sustainable palm oil standards, which do not permit burning.
25The rules mean that slash and burn methods continue to be used by small-holder farmers.
26Additionally, following the guidelines is voluntary.
27Unclear supply chains, land claims, and laws mean that large companies can sometimes avoid responsibility for illegal land clearing.
28The large operations are sometimes owned by companies based in countries like Malaysia and Singapore.
29The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently launched a center for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (known as ACC THPC).
30Its aim is to help members prevent, deal with, and follow cross-country haze.
31The center is in line with ASEAN's agreement to reach a haze-free area by 2030.
32This week ASEAN agriculture and forestry ministers also agreed to take collective action to reduce and eventually remove crop burning.
33Environmentalists say Indonesia is home to the world's third largest rainforest area and the government needs to take more action.
34The country is experiencing increased dry conditions because of a weather system called El Niño.
35Greenpeace Indonesia says climate warming is making forest and land fires more intense, which is adding to the climate crisis.
36I'm Dan Friedell.
1The problem of cross-country smoke, or haze, has caused a new disagreement in Southeast Asia. 2Malaysia's environment minister wrote to Indonesia's government this week calling for action to help reduce smoke across Malaysia. 3The letter comes just weeks after countries in Southeast Asia agreed to a haze-free area by 2030. 4What is going on? 5In recent weeks, air quality reports in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia have reached readings above 150. This puts conditions at a level where people can experience unhealthy effects. And those with existing health problems could suffer greater greater health problems. 6On the Indonesian side of Borneo Island, visibility was reduced to less than 10 meters. Schools are closed in both Indonesia and Malaysia to reduce the health effects on young children. 7Malaysia has blamed the haze on Indonesia, saying smoke from forest fires is being pushed across the border. 8Every few years, during the dry season, smoke from "slash and burn" land clearing takes over much of the area. Slash and burn is a method in agriculture to cut down and burn plants to clear land for planting. 9This method is used to clear land for planting palm trees. Products from palm trees include oil, pulp, and paper. But this method threatens public health, education, and businesses like tourism. 10How are officials dealing with the problem? 11Even after Malaysia called on Indonesia this week to avoid "normalizing" the haze, Indonesian officials have denied any responsibility. 12Indonesia's environment minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said recently that forest fires had decreased and no haze was found moving toward any neighboring country. 13She said Indonesia has been dealing with the fires by dropping water bombs from helicopters. 14In the past, Indonesia has taken legal action against companies suspected of illegal burning. But each year fires continue with different degrees of severity. 15In 2015 and 2019, Indonesia saw large fires that burned millions of hectares of land. It caused record-breaking pollution and some places were surrounded by toxic yellow smoke. 16Why does this keep happening? 17Under Indonesian law, burning by small, local farmers is permitted. But it must happen on an area no greater than two hectares and necessary prevention measures must be in place. 18All large farm holders must follow sustainable palm oil standards, which do not permit burning. 19The rules mean that slash and burn methods continue to be used by small-holder farmers. Additionally, following the guidelines is voluntary. 20Unclear supply chains, land claims, and laws mean that large companies can sometimes avoid responsibility for illegal land clearing. The large operations are sometimes owned by companies based in countries like Malaysia and Singapore. 21How is the area responding? 22The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently launched a center for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (known as ACC THPC). 23Its aim is to help members prevent, deal with, and follow cross-country haze. The center is in line with ASEAN's agreement to reach a haze-free area by 2030. 24This week ASEAN agriculture and forestry ministers also agreed to take collective action to reduce and eventually remove crop burning. 25Is climate change making it worse? 26Environmentalists say Indonesia is home to the world's third largest rainforest area and the government needs to take more action. The country is experiencing increased dry conditions because of a weather system called El Niño. 27Greenpeace Indonesia says climate warming is making forest and land fires more intense, which is adding to the climate crisis. 28I'm Dan Friedell. 29Reuters reported this story. Gregory Stachel adapted the story for VOA Learning English. 30________________________________________________ 31Words in This Story 32visibility - n. the ability to see or be seen 33sustainable - adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources 34supply chain - n. a network of businesses that supply the materials and parts needed to provide people with products and goods