Each year, as the dry season descends upon Indonesia, vast swaths of land go up in flames—sometimes deliberately, sometimes through negligence, but nearly always with devastating consequences. From Sumatra to Kalimantan, fires—many of them illegal—rage across peatlands and forests, creating a thick, choking haze that does not stop at the country’s borders. The smoke travels. It drifts into Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and beyond, cloaking entire cities in an acrid shroud and sending air quality indexes spiraling into dangerous territory.
These fires are not random acts of nature. They are driven by a toxic mix of economic incentives, lax enforcement, corrupt local politics, and powerful agri-business interests—many linked to the palm oil and pulp and paper industries. Despite international criticism and environmental pledges, the cycle continues. But the impact is far from local. Southeast Asia is paying the price for one nation’s inability—or unwillingness—to stop the flames.
What Fuels the Fires?
The majority of these fires are set to clear land cheaply. In the resource-rich provinces of Indonesia, especially Riau and South Sumatra, companies and local farmers alike engage in slash-and-burn tactics. Peatland—rich in carbon and notoriously flammable when dry—is drained and ignited, leading to fires that are difficult to extinguish and which can smolder underground for weeks.
Despite laws prohibiting open burning, enforcement remains weak. Investigations often stall. Companies are rarely held accountable, and when they are, fines are minimal or cases are quietly dropped. A lack of political will—fueled in part by the palm oil industry’s immense economic and political clout—ensures impunity.
A Regional Health Crisis
The haze doesn’t just stay in Indonesia. Every year, millions across Southeast Asia suffer from its consequences. Schools close, flights are canceled, tourism revenues decline, and respiratory illnesses surge. Vulnerable populations—children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions—are especially at risk.
In 2015, one of the worst haze events in history blanketed the region. Over 100,000 premature deaths were linked to the fires, according to a study published in Environmental Research Letters. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Economies took a hit, with the World Bank estimating $16 billion in losses for Indonesia alone. Yet here we are, years later, with the same fires burning.
Diplomatic Fallout and the Blame Game
The transboundary nature of the haze has led to diplomatic tensions, particularly between Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Singapore passed the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act in 2014, which allows it to fine foreign companies contributing to haze within its borders. Indonesia, in response, criticized the move as an infringement on sovereignty.
While ASEAN has attempted to address the issue through its Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution—signed in 2002—it remains toothless. The agreement lacks enforcement mechanisms, and while it encourages cooperation, it falls short of mandating meaningful action.
Who’s Really Responsible?
Responsibility for the fires lies at multiple levels. While small-scale farmers are often blamed, many of the worst fires occur on concession lands controlled by large corporations. These companies may subcontract the burning to avoid direct accountability, or simply fail to monitor and manage their lands.
Meanwhile, local governments—many with deep ties to agri-business—are reluctant to crack down on violators. Corruption and decentralization of power have allowed regional leaders to act with little oversight from Jakarta.
The Indonesian central government, to its credit, has made strides in recent years. President Joko Widodo has increased funding for peatland restoration, banned new peatland development, and threatened to revoke concessions. But critics say it’s too little, too slow—and the fires keep returning.
Climate Change Multiplier
What makes the situation more urgent is the broader context of climate change. Forest and peatland fires in Indonesia release massive amounts of carbon dioxide, making the country one of the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters during fire season. The 2015 fires alone produced more daily carbon emissions than the entire U.S. economy on certain days.
Worse still, climate change is making the dry season hotter and longer, increasing the likelihood and intensity of fires. As sea levels rise and weather patterns shift, the region is confronting compounding environmental crises—many with their origins in Indonesia’s forests.
The Way Forward: Prevention Over Cure
What’s needed is not more firefighting planes, but political courage. Prevention, not reaction, must be the focus. That means holding corporations accountable, investing in sustainable alternatives for farmers, empowering indigenous land stewardship, and enforcing the law without fear or favor.
Regional cooperation must also evolve beyond platitudes. A stronger ASEAN-led mechanism with real enforcement teeth is needed. Transparency in land concessions, cross-border legal cooperation, and independent monitoring would go a long way.
Finally, public awareness and pressure matter. Civil society movements, investigative journalism, and consumer boycotts have helped shine a spotlight on dirty practices. But it’s up to both Southeast Asian governments and the international community to act.
Illegal burning in Indonesia is more than an environmental issue—it is a regional crisis with geopolitical, economic, and health implications. The smoke that drifts over borders is symbolic of the shared air, shared waters, and shared destiny of Southeast Asia. Until governments recognize that what burns in one nation affects them all, the region will remain caught in the haze—literally and figuratively.