ASEAN countries pledge to ban all open-air burning activities

Channel News Asia 19.08.2009 18:55

SINGAPORE: Environment ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have agreed to ban all open-air burning activities in a bid to combat the recurrent haze.

Open-air burning activities like slash-and-burn agriculture are the biggest culprits of the region's haze problem.

Permits for burning activities at fire-prone hotspots will also be suspended and ministers have promised a quicker emergency response to fight fires should the need arise.

In addition, Indonesia revealed that it is introducing a law next week that will impose penalties for open-air burning.

These measures were announced at a news conference on Wednesday, following the eighth meeting of the sub-regional ministerial steering committee (MSC) formed in 2006, which was tasked to look into the haze situation in the region.

But while the political will is strong, how it translates into action is another matter.

Source

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