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| 2015 Southeast Asian haze | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2015 Southeast Asian haze |
| Caption | Forest fires and haze in Southeast Asia, 2015 |
| Date | June–October 2015 |
| Location | Sumatra, Kalimantan, Riau, Central Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Jambi, Indonesia |
| Cause | Extensive peatland and forest fires associated with slash-and-burn agricultural practices |
| Fatalities | Estimates vary |
| Affected | Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei |
2015 Southeast Asian haze was a transboundary atmospheric pollution event primarily originating from extensive fires on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in mid‑2015. The episode produced widespread air quality degradation across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of Thailand and Brunei, prompting regional diplomatic tension, emergency public health measures, and international media coverage. The crisis intersected with peatland ecology, commodity supply chains, and multilateral institutions, becoming a focal point for discussions involving ASEAN, UNEP, and transnational corporations.
The fires occurred during an unusually strong El Niño event that coincided with the 2015 dry season, following years of peatland drainage and expansion of oil palm and pulp and paper plantations by companies headquartered in Jakarta, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Peatlands in Sumatra and Borneo had been subject to conversion under policies linked to Reformasi era land allocation and agricultural development promoted by ministries in Indonesia and investors from China, Japan, and South Korea. Historical antecedents included the 1997 Southeast Asian haze, which generated disputes involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and environmental groups such as WWF and Greenpeace.
Investigations attributed ignition to land-clearing fires associated with commodity expansion by companies in the palm oil and pulp and paper sectors, including entities with ties to Sinar Mas Group, Asia Pulp & Paper, and other conglomerates. Landowners and smallholders in provinces like Riau and Central Kalimantan used slash-and-burn methods in peatland areas drained for acacia and oil palm cultivation. Climatic conditions driven by El Niño and persistent drought amplified peat combustion, producing smoldering fires that emitted large quantities of carbon dioxide and particulate matter. Satellite monitoring by NASA, NOAA, and the European Space Agency detected extensive thermal anomalies, while Indonesian agencies including BMKG and the Manggala Agni firefighting units tracked hotspots.
Air pollution reached hazardous levels in urban centers such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Medan, and Bandar Seri Begawan, disrupting aviation at airports like Changi Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and Soekarno–Hatta International Airport. Schools in Singapore, Penang, and Johor were closed, and events including matches of the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and cultural festivals were affected. International organizations including WHO and UNESCAP issued advisories, while regional trade and transport networks linking Strait of Malacca and South China Sea ports faced operational challenges. Diplomatic exchanges involved leaders such as President Joko Widodo and prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore.
ASEAN institutions invoked mechanisms for transboundary haze mitigation, prompting coordination among AHA Centre, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, and Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management. Bilateral assistance included aerial firefighting and personnel deployment, while debates arose over sovereignty norms enshrined in the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Indonesian domestic action involved declarations by ministries and law enforcement efforts by agencies like the Corps of Forest Rangers; international pressure led to diplomatic visits and public statements from figures such as the President of Indonesia and leaders of Malaysia and Singapore.
The haze increased concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), prompting health advisories from WHO and national public health agencies including Singapore Ministry of Health and Malaysia Ministry of Health. Hospitals in affected cities reported spikes in respiratory and cardiovascular cases among vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly. Ecological consequences included peatland degradation, loss of biodiversity in ecosystems associated with Tanjung Puting National Park, Sungai Wain Protection Forest, and other protected areas, and elevated greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global carbon accounting issues addressed by UNFCCC negotiators. Conservation NGOs such as IUCN and BirdLife International documented impacts on endangered species, while scientific assessments from institutions like Universitas Indonesia and University of Malaya studied air quality and health outcomes.
The haze generated costs across sectors: reduced productivity in urban services, tourism declines affecting destinations managed by Tourism Malaysia and Singapore Tourism Board, and supply chain disruptions in commodities linked to palm oil and pulp and paper industries. Insurance claims and flight cancellations imposed financial burdens on carriers such as Singapore Airlines and regional budget airlines, while timber and plantation firms faced reputational damage among investors including sovereign wealth funds like GIC (Singapore) and international asset managers. Economic analyses by World Bank, ADB, and regional universities estimated substantial welfare and GDP impacts for Indonesia and neighboring economies.
Law enforcement and regulatory responses included local prosecutions under Indonesian laws administered by bodies such as the Attorney General's Office (Indonesia) and administrative penalties by ministries overseeing forestry and environment like the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Indonesia). International scrutiny involved civil society litigation, shareholder actions targeting corporations named in reports by Greenpeace, Rainforest Alliance, and investigative journalism by outlets like The Straits Times and The Jakarta Post. Multinational firms faced supplier audits and commitments to No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation policies advocated by NGOs and industry platforms including the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.
Category:2015 natural disasters Category:Environment of Indonesia Category:Air pollution events