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| What causes South East Asia's haze? | What causes South East Asia's haze? |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Forest fires in Indonesia have resulted in a smoky haze that is blanketing the region and affecting neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore. | Forest fires in Indonesia have resulted in a smoky haze that is blanketing the region and affecting neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore. |
| Both the haze and the controversy around it have intensified in recent years. But what causes it, and what makes it such a contentious issue? | Both the haze and the controversy around it have intensified in recent years. But what causes it, and what makes it such a contentious issue? |
| What's causing the haze? | What's causing the haze? |
| Every year Indonesia sees agriculture fires in Riau province in East Sumatra, South Sumatra, and parts of Kalimantan on Indonesian Borneo. | Every year Indonesia sees agriculture fires in Riau province in East Sumatra, South Sumatra, and parts of Kalimantan on Indonesian Borneo. |
| The fires are said to be caused by corporations as well as small-scale farmers who use the illegal slash-and-burn method to clear vegetation for palm oil, pulp and paper plantations. | |
| The fires often spin out of control and spread into protected forested areas. | The fires often spin out of control and spread into protected forested areas. |
| The problem has accelerated in recent years as more land has been cleared for expanding plantations for the lucrative trade. | |
| The burnt land also becomes drier, which makes it more likely to catch fire the next time there are slash-and-burn clearings. | |
| Why is it an issue? | Why is it an issue? |
| The haze gets blown north and westwards across affected Indonesian provinces, as well as towards Malaysia and Singapore, causing a significant deterioration in air quality. | The haze gets blown north and westwards across affected Indonesian provinces, as well as towards Malaysia and Singapore, causing a significant deterioration in air quality. |
| It can be a health hazard, and at its peak it has prompted school closures, flight cancellations and virtual shutdowns of towns and cities. | It can be a health hazard, and at its peak it has prompted school closures, flight cancellations and virtual shutdowns of towns and cities. |
| Singapore and Indonesia use the Pollutants Standards Index (PSI) to measure air quality, while Malaysia uses the similar Air Pollutants Index (API). On both indices, a reading that is above 100 is classified as unhealthy and anything above 300 is hazardous. | Singapore and Indonesia use the Pollutants Standards Index (PSI) to measure air quality, while Malaysia uses the similar Air Pollutants Index (API). On both indices, a reading that is above 100 is classified as unhealthy and anything above 300 is hazardous. |
| Indonesia recently declared a state of emergency in Riau province - one of its towns, Pekanbaru, saw a PSI reading of 984. | Indonesia recently declared a state of emergency in Riau province - one of its towns, Pekanbaru, saw a PSI reading of 984. |
| Malaysia declared a state of emergency in 2013, when a southern district saw readings of more than 750 API. | Malaysia declared a state of emergency in 2013, when a southern district saw readings of more than 750 API. |
| What makes it so dangerous? | What makes it so dangerous? |
| Besides irritating the respiratory tract and the eyes, pollutants in the haze can cause serious long-term damage to health. | Besides irritating the respiratory tract and the eyes, pollutants in the haze can cause serious long-term damage to health. |
| The indices used to measure air quality in the region usually measure particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. | The indices used to measure air quality in the region usually measure particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. |
| PM2.5 is considered the most dangerous as it can enter deeper into the lungs. It has been associated with causing respiratory illnesses and lung damage. | PM2.5 is considered the most dangerous as it can enter deeper into the lungs. It has been associated with causing respiratory illnesses and lung damage. |
| What is being done to stop it? | What is being done to stop it? |
| Indonesia has been dumping millions of litres of water in affected areas and has sent in the army to help firefighters put out the fires. | Indonesia has been dumping millions of litres of water in affected areas and has sent in the army to help firefighters put out the fires. |
| Indonesia and Malaysia have also conducted cloud-seeding to induce rain, while Singapore has pledged assistance to help put out fires. | Indonesia and Malaysia have also conducted cloud-seeding to induce rain, while Singapore has pledged assistance to help put out fires. |
| Indonesia has for years promised to step up enforcement. Under President Joko Widodo, it has named 10 corporations as suspects, and said it is investigating more than 100 individuals. | Indonesia has for years promised to step up enforcement. Under President Joko Widodo, it has named 10 corporations as suspects, and said it is investigating more than 100 individuals. |
| In 2002, all 10 South East Asian countries signed an agreement to combat the issue through greater monitoring and encouragement of sustainable development, but efforts have been limited. | In 2002, all 10 South East Asian countries signed an agreement to combat the issue through greater monitoring and encouragement of sustainable development, but efforts have been limited. |
| Why has it been so difficult to stop? | Why has it been so difficult to stop? |
| Indonesia has long struggled to police the vast rural expanse in Sumatra and Kalimantan. | Indonesia has long struggled to police the vast rural expanse in Sumatra and Kalimantan. |
| But Indonesia and environment rights activists also say it is not entirely to blame, as some of the corporations accused of illegal burning have Malaysian and Singaporean investors. | But Indonesia and environment rights activists also say it is not entirely to blame, as some of the corporations accused of illegal burning have Malaysian and Singaporean investors. |
| Singapore in 2014 passed a set of laws that allow it to prosecute individuals and companies that contribute to the haze, but it remains unclear how this law could be enforced. | Singapore in 2014 passed a set of laws that allow it to prosecute individuals and companies that contribute to the haze, but it remains unclear how this law could be enforced. |
| There have also been name-and-shame campaigns and calls to boycott the products of the companies said to be contributing to the haze. | There have also been name-and-shame campaigns and calls to boycott the products of the companies said to be contributing to the haze. |
| In the meantime Indonesian authorities continue to struggle to put out the fires, many of which have flared up on flammable and dry peat-rich areas. | In the meantime Indonesian authorities continue to struggle to put out the fires, many of which have flared up on flammable and dry peat-rich areas. |
| A peat fire is difficult to put out as it can burn underground for months, and requires a lot of water to extinguish. Fires can spread underground and spring up in other places later. | A peat fire is difficult to put out as it can burn underground for months, and requires a lot of water to extinguish. Fires can spread underground and spring up in other places later. |