The State of Knowledge of Transboundary Haze Pollution: Problems and Challenges with ASEAN Work Culture
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
บทคัดย่อ
The objective of this study is to survey knowledge of transboundary air pollution problems in Southeast Asia, including Mainland Southeast Asia, or the Mekong subregion, and the southern part of ASEAN, as thoroughly documented before and after the ASEAN agreement on transboundary haze pollution was signed and implemented.
The study found that due to globalization and neoliberalism, haze and air pollution levels have risen in direct correlation with an increase in farming contracts, including the expansion of palm oil plantations, lumber and paper pulp industries, and the livestock corn business. These increases are in response to Asian countries' needs and economic growth, as well as concerns about food security. Furthermore, this study aims to observe the levels of transboundary air pollution in Southeast Asia before and after the signing of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, a legally binding environmental agreement signed in 2002 by ASEAN member states in an effort to reduce regional haze pollution. However, Indonesia did not ratify the agreement until 2014.
The study finds that the agreement failed. This is because practical processes focused on respecting sovereignty, one of ASEAN's key principles that has been coined the “ASEAN Way”. This is a culturally-sensitive method of considering each nation’s preferred way of addressing problems based on their own political agendas. Therefore, the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution must be reconsidered and enhanced to address environmental issues in the context of complex indicators, taking into account various factors including regional politics and economics.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Adeleke, A., Apidechkul, T., Kanthawee, P., Suma, Y., & Wongnuch, P. (2017). Contributing Factors and Impacts of Open Burning in Thailand: Perspectives from Farmers in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Journal of Health Research, 31(2), 159-167.
Borras, S. M., Jr., & Franco, J. C. (2018). The challenge of locating land-based climate change mitigation and adaptation politics within a social justice perspective: towards an idea of agrarian climate justice. Third World Quarterly, 39(7), 1308-1325.
Bryant, R. L., & Bailey, S., (1997). Third world political ecology. Routledge.
Greenpeace Thailand. (2019). ASEAN Unity but why can’t they deal with Transboundary Haze Pollution? https://www.greenpeace.org/thailand/story/9597/asean-haze-problem/
Greenpeace Thailand. (2021). The Analysis Results of Hotspots in Burning Areas, PM 2.5 Concentration, and Corn Plantation Areas in the Mekong Sub-Region during 2019-2020. https://www.greenpeace.org/thailand/publication/19092/food-label-report-pm25-criris-in-mekong-sub-region-2021/
Heil, A., & Goldammer, J. (2001). Smoke-haze pollution: a review of the 1997 episode in Southeast Asia. Regional Environmental Change, 2(1), 24-37.
Heilmann, D. (2015). After Indonesia’s Ratification: The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and Its Effectiveness as a Regional Environmental Governance Tool”. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 34(3), 95-121.
Hirsch, P., & Warren C. (1998). The Politics of Environment in Southeast Asia. Routledge.
Islam, M. S., Hui Pei, Y., & Mangharam, S. (2016). Trans-boundary haze pollution in Southeast Asia: sustainability through plural environmental governance. Sustainability, 8(5), 1-13.
Jaroenpanyanet, A. (2020). Transboundary Haze Pollution and Climate Condition. The 2nd Conference of International Shan Studies during 4-6 September, 2020 at Mae Hong Son Community College Hall. Tai Yai (Shan) Studies Center, Mae Hong Son Community College and Center for Ethnic Studies and Development, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University.
Jepsen, M. R., Palm, M., & Bruun, T. B. (2019). What Awaits Myanmar’s Uplands Farmers? Lessons Learned from Mainland Southeast Asia. Land, 8(2), 1-23.
Jerger, D. B., Jr. (2014). Indonesia's role in realizing the goals of ASEAN's agreement on transboundary haze pollution. Sustainable Dev. L. & Pol'y, 14, 35-45.
Jim, C. Y. (1999). The forest fires in Indonesia 1997-98: Possible causes and pervasive consequences. Geography, 7(1). 251-260.
Jones, D. (2004). “ASEAN and transboundary haze pollution in Southeast Asia” in Public Policy-Making’, Asian Journal of Political Science, 12(2), 59-77.
Jones, D. S. (2006). ASEAN and transboundary haze pollution in Southeast Asia. Asia Europe Journal, 4(3), 431-446.
Kraiwatanapong, V., & Mahattanobol, W. (2012). Environmental Security in ASEAN. In Seminar on China and Human Security in second years. Chula Research Institute (Chula Unisearch), Chinese Studies Center, Institute of Asian Studies Chulalongkorn University. 35-64.
Lekkham, A., & Singhaputargun, N. (2019). A Comprehensive Chiang Rai Model for Haze Management: A Case Study of Chiang Rai, Thailand (pp. 77-90). In the 6th International Conference on International Relations and Development (ICIRD). Chiang Rai: ICIRD Knowledge Network.
Litta, H. (2012). Case Study One: Transboundary Haze Pollution. Regimes in Southeast Asia (pp. 89-138). VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Nguitragool, P. (2011a). Environmental Cooperation in Southeast Asia: ASEAN's Regime for trans-boundary Haze Pollution. Routledge.
Nguitragool, P. (2011b). Negotiating the haze treaty: rationality and institutions in the negotiations for the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (2002). Asian Survey, 51(2), 356-378.
NIDA Center for Research & Development Disaster Prevention & Management. (2012). The Northern Thailand forest fires in the Summer season. http://dpm.nida.ac.th/main/index.php/articles/fire/item/37
Pasukphun, N. (2018). Environmental health burden of open burning in northern Thailand: a review. PSRU Journal of Science and Technology, 3(3), 11-28.
Ramli, D. R. D., Hashim, R., & Mohammed, N. (2019). The Challenges of the ASEAN Way in Managing the Transboundary Haze Issue (pp. 465-474). In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on the Future of ASEAN (ICoFA) 2017(1). Springer.
Robertua, V., & Sigalingging, L. (2019). Indonesia Environmental Diplomacy Reformed: Case Studies of Greening ASEAN Way and Peat Restoration Agency. Andalas Journal of International Studies (AJIS), 8(1), 1-15.
Simachaya, W. (2001). Haze pollution in the northern of Thailand: Problem and Solution. In seminar of The Global warming crisis, smog pollution, imminent disaster. Pollution Control Department, 1-11.
Sirimongkonlertkun, N. (2014). Smoke haze problem and open burning behavior of local people in Chiang Rai province. Environment and Natural Resources Journal, 12(2), 29-34.
Sirimongkonlertkun, N. (2018). Assessment of Long-range Transport Contribution on Haze Episode in Northern Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 151(1), 1-7.
Smoke watch. (2019a). Hotspots 25 March 20019. https://www.facebook.com/Smoke-Watch-286832481894007/photos/946072535969995
Smoke watch. (2019b). Hotspots 25 March 20019. https://www.facebook.com/Smoke-Watch-286832481894007/photos/456986948211892
Suchchindah, A. (2015). Transboundary Haze Pollution Problem in Southeast Asia: Reframing ASEAN’s Response. ERIA Discussion Paper Series, 1-21.
Sukpherm, K., Boonplook, D., & Lamlert, W. (2016). “Legal Measures to Prevent and Control of Smog Pollution from the Open Burning: Case Studies on Eight Northern Provinces in Thailand”. Sukhothai Thammathirrat Open University Journal, 29(1), 26-43.
Tay, S. S. (2000). Fires and haze in Southeast Asia: Challenges to regional cooperation in ASEAN and Asia pacific (pp.49-67). Community Building in Asia Pacific: Dialogue in Okinawa, Japan: Japan Center for International Exchange.
Timwat, P. (2016). Collaboration Dealing with Haze Pollution from Neighboring Country to Thailand under ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016.
Tonkaew, S. (2009). Problems and prospects concerning the implementation of ASEAN agreement on transboundary haze pollution and relation to Thailand [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Chulalongkorn University.
Varkkey, H. (2012). The Asean way and haze mitigation efforts. Journal of International Studies, 8, 77-97.
Varkkey, H. (2015). The haze problem in Southeast Asia: Palm oil and patronage. Routledge.
Varkkey, H. (2019). The Political Future of Haze and Peatlands in Southeast Asia. In proceedings of the 6th International Conference on International Relations and Development (ICIRD).
Wilson, A. M., Gladfelter, S., Williams, M. W., Shahi, S., Baral, P., Armstrong, R., & Racoviteanu, A. (2017). High Asia: the international dynamics of climate change and water security. The Journal of Asian Studies, 76(2), 457-480.
Woods, K. (2015). CP maize contract farming in Shan State, Myanmar: A regional case of a place-based corporate agro-feed system. BRICS Initiative for Critical Agrarian Studies (BICAS). 1-25.