Malaysia proposed a science diplomacy and sustainable haze fund at the 27th MSC meeting in Bali, strengthening AATHP efforts. Members reaffirmed commitment to haze-free ASEAN by 2030, discussed rising hotspots, El Nino risks, SEA FDRS improvements, and agreed to expand the haze fund’s scope and governance.
Key Points
- Malaysia proposed a science diplomacy and sustainable haze fund at the 27th MSC meeting in Bali, with members agreeing to explore its feasibility and strengthen the Asean haze fund’s contributions and scope.
- ASMC reported an 86% hotspot increase in H1 2026, with El Nino expected to worsen dry conditions; Malaysia showcased SEA FDRS upgrades and the new MyCMAQ air quality model.
- Malaysia and Indonesia held bilateral talks on environmental cooperation; Malaysia will host the 28th MSC meeting in Sabah in 2027.
New Proposals to Strengthen Regional Haze Cooperation
At the 27th Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) meeting in Bali, Malaysia—represented by Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup—proposed a science diplomacy initiative and a sustainable haze fund to reinforce the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP).
Member states, including Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and Timor-Leste, agreed to assess the feasibility of science diplomacy within existing or new AATHP mechanisms. They also reaffirmed commitment to the Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) and welcomed progress under the Asean Investment Framework for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management, supporting the goal of a haze-free Asean by 2030.
Rising Hotspot Risks Amid El Niño Conditions
The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) reported an 86% increase in hotspots in early 2026 compared to 2025, driven by hotter, drier weather. El Niño is expected to persist and intensify through August–September 2026, raising concerns over below-normal rainfall and heightened haze risks across the region.
To address this, MET Malaysia highlighted advances in the Southeast Asia Fire Danger Rating System (SEA FDRS), including three new automated weather stations in Peninsular Malaysia, and the March 2026 launch of the Malaysian Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (MyCMAQ) for improved air quality forecasting and haze monitoring.
Strengthening Governance and Bilateral Ties
The MSC meeting reaffirmed commitment to prevention, firefighting, and joint emergency response, guided by the Second Haze-Free Roadmap 2023–2030 and the SOP for Monitoring, Assessment and Joint Emergency Response (SOP MAJER). Members also agreed to explore expanding the Asean haze fund, broadening contribution sources and supporting scientific research through transparent governance.
Looking ahead, the 21st AATHP Conference of Parties will be held in Da Nang, Vietnam, in October, while Malaysia will host the 28th MSC meeting in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in June 2027. Separately, Malaysia and Indonesia held bilateral talks, agreeing to deepen cooperation on environmental and climate change issues, including continued efforts to monitor and prevent transboundary haze.
Source : Malaysia proposes science diplomacy, sustainable haze fund to combat Asean haze
