It is halfway through 2021, meaning it is time for another risk assessment report on the infamous haze within the Southeast Asia region. Together with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), we concluded that there is a low risk of a severe transboundary haze incident for this year, on account of favourable weather, pandemic-related disruption to land clearance and planting exercises, and proper forest management by various stakeholders, including the Indonesian government.

As usual, Segi Enam Advisors collected and examined qualitative and quantitative data from various sources, including recent academic literature, meteorological departments, and government agencies. We also provided geospatial analysis of key areas in the Riau and Central Kalimantan regions to give a geographical overview on hotspot intensity in relation to other information such has forest and peatland moratorium areas and districts with food estate projects in planning.

Read the full report here: SIIA Haze Outlook 2021

Edit (28.06.2021, 11.40 a.m.): ANTARA News covered the launch of the Haze Outlook 2021 report during SIIA’s virtual webinar on 24 June 2021. The article reported the statements made by guest speaker Herry Purnomo of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), who commended both the public and private sectors for their roles in reducing fires and deforestation, and SIIA chairman Professor Simon Tay, who opined that the extension of the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency’s tenure shows the Indonesian government’s fire prevention commitments.