Singapore’s air pollution spiked into very unhealthy levels as transboundary haze from wildfires in Indonesia blanketed the region. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned of potential legal action against responsible companies under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act while the haze disrupted daily life.
Thick smoke continued to drift across the island on Thursday and into Friday, sending pollutant readings soaring. Singapore topped IQAir’s live ranking of the world’s most polluted major cities early Friday, with Jakarta placing second and Kuala Lumpur fifth. Around 0230 GMT on Friday, the urban hub registered a reading of 236 on IQAir’s Air Quality Index, pushing pollution into very unhealthy territory. Within the Swiss organization’s framework, figures spanning 151 to 200 denote unhealthy conditions, numbers between 201 and 300 signal very unhealthy air, and levels exceeding 300 are deemed hazardous.
Air quality in the city-state first deteriorated to unhealthy levels on September 4, marking the first time the country faced such conditions in nearly three years, government data shows. The current episode stems from widespread forest and peatland fires burning in Indonesia’s Kalimantan region, sending plumes across maritime Southeast Asia.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Warns of Legal Prosecutions
Confronted with the worsening environmental strain, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed the crisis in a statement posted to social media late Thursday. Lawrence Wong said the government was looking into which companies may be responsible for the fires and that where warranted, they would take action under Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, and also explore joint action with other countries.
🇸🇬 BREAKING: Haze Keeps Singapore’s Air Quality in the Unhealthy RangeSingapore continues to face an air-quality problem as smoke drifting from fires in Indonesia blankets parts of the city-state. On Tuesday evening, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index reached 162 in the…
While Singapore lacks any native forests or agricultural plantations, multiple businesses holding land concessions in Indonesia reportedly maintain their headquarters within the municipal borders. Bringing legal claims against corporations tied to the ongoing smog presents significant difficulties, as any inquiries depend heavily on assistance from international regulatory bodies.
Singapore enacted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in 2014, after a severe pollution episode in 2013. Another spell occurred in 2015. Probes concerning four Indonesian business entities over their suspected involvement in the 2015 smoke crisis remain active today, a situation that caused diplomatic friction with Jakarta during that period.
Airlines Divert Flights and Marina Bay Sands Suspends Outdoor Offerings
Reduced visibility has begun to disrupt vital transportation and tourism infrastructure across Singapore. Spokespeople for Changi Airport Group and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore confirmed in a joint media reply that Seletar Airport has seen 16 diversions due to low visibility.
The environmental strain has similarly affected major hospitality venues and outdoor commerce. A spokesperson from Marina Bay Sands told CNBC via email that certain outdoor experiences that involve prolonged exposure to the outdoors have been temporarily suspended
and the hotel is providing masks and air purifiers to guests. Outdoor dining establishments and hawker centers have reported a drop in business, according to the local media.
The haze arrived just as Singapore welcomed international guests for Singapore International Cyber Week. Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo told CNBC’s Squawk Box Asia
on Thursday that the haze was not the best way to welcome our international guests,
as the event has drawn a record turnout of more than 15,000 visitors from over 100 countries. To aid local populations, authorities had already rolled out support measures weeks in advance, which included handing out face coverings to the most vulnerable inhabitants.
Malaysia Calls for Regional ASEAN Solution as Haze Spreads
The environmental crisis is not confined to Singapore, with neighboring Malaysia registering significant air quality impacts. On Wednesday, Amir Hamzah Azizan, who serves as Malaysia’s Second Finance Minister, communicated to CNBC that the escalating smog demands a unified multi-nation strategy across the Southeast Asian bloc.
It is an issue that needs an ASEAN solution.
Amir Hamzah Azizan, Second Finance Minister of Malaysia
Malaysia has offered to deploy water bombers and other resources to help tackle the issue. In addition, an email statement provided to CNBC by a representative for the delivery and ride-hailing network Grab noted that the enterprise has begun handing out protective face coverings alongside safety guidance for its delivery and driver workforce.