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Mr. Thalearngsak Petchsuwan Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau

ASEAN Cooperation on Fire and Haze Control under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Mr. Thalearngsak Petchsuwan Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau Pollution Control Department, Thailand. What is HAZE?.

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Mr. Thalearngsak Petchsuwan Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau

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  1. ASEAN Cooperation on Fire and Haze Control under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution Mr. Thalearngsak Petchsuwan Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau Pollution Control Department, Thailand

  2. What is HAZE? • HAZE : Atmospheric moisture, dust, smoke and vapor suspended in the air to form a partially opaque condition and impair visibility. • HAZE pollution can be “transboundary” if its density and extent is so great at source that it remains at measurable levels after crossing into another country’s air space.

  3. Hot Spot Smoke Haze Hotspot and Smoke Haze detected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite Haze from Land and Forest Fires Hot Spot Smoke Haze

  4. Haze resulted from 3 main activities; Solid Waste Burning Agricultural Waste Burning Forest Fire

  5. Haze Situation in Southeast Asia During dry season in the Northern Hemisphere (January - April), hotspot in Mekong Sub-Region was found to increase. These burning activities result in transboundary haze pollution which can be seen clearly in the satellite images On the other hand, fire in the Southern Part of the Region is found to be more intense during June – September particularly in Sumatra and Borneo.

  6. Mekong sub-region Dry season: Jan – April Problems: Forest fire and open burning in agricultural areas and community Southern ASEAN Dry season: June - September Problems: Burning in peatland

  7. Haze in the Southern Part of ASEAN Region

  8. Southern Smoke Haze Episode in 1997

  9. Southern Smoke Haze Episode in 1997 • Smoke haze from land and forest fire in Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia had affected Southeast Asian countries during dry seasons in 1991, 1994 and 1997 • Widespread uncontrolled forest fires, which originated from agricultural land clearing, occurred since July 1997 in several major islands of Indonesia, under the abnormally dry conditions from the 1997-98 El Niño/ Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episode

  10. Southern Smoke Haze Episode in 1997 • The fires sent thick smoke haze across the sky of countries in the region such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, the Southern part of Thailand and some parts of the Philippines in September 1997.

  11. Southern Smoke Haze Episode in 1997 • The economic loss suffered by countries during this environmental disaster was enormous. Several economic sectors, including air, water and land transport, tourism and agriculture have been severely affected • Poor visibility making airlines canceling flights to several airports in the region • Implicated as a factor in the crash of a commercial aircraft in Sumatra on 26 September 1997, that killed all 243 people abroad

  12. Haze pollution has also resulted in considerable health impact on the people of the countries affected. An increase in number of sick people who required clinic visits or hospital admission was reported from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. • More than 20,000 and 4,000 cases were reported in Malaysia and Singapore, respectively, and several thousands cases in Thailand.

  13. % change % net haze impacts P-value*OPD visitsAll respiratory+26 8<0.01**IPD admissionsAll respiratory+33 7<0.01**Pneumonia+3618<0.01**Bronchitis/COPD+40120.01**Asthma +12 3NS Changes in the respiratory morbidity in the south of Thailand and the net health impacts from 1997 haze, Sept - Oct 1997 * Chi-squre goodness of fit test, using contingency table analysis (2x2) for each condition ** Significant Source: Health and Environmental Impacts from the 1997 ASEAN Haze in Southern Thailand, 1998

  14. Haze in the Northern Part of ASEAN Region (Mekong Sub-region)

  15. Smoke Haze in Mekong Sub-Region

  16. Smoke Haze in Mekong Sub-Region • Hotspot in Mekong Sub-Region was found to increase during January to April every year • The increasing hotspot number is from forest fires which are found to be more intense during that period in Mekong Sub-Region Countries • In addition, the farmers in this region also prepare land for the next crop cultivation and burning is the easiest way to eliminate waste such as rice straw and sugar cane leaves

  17. Smoke Haze in Mekong Sub-Region • These burning activities result in transboundary haze pollution which can be seen clearly in the satellite images. Dust, smoke and gaseous pollutants can be blown across boundary and affect to all countries in the region • PM10 concentrations in the Northern Part of Thailand are found to elevate during the same period as the increase in hotspot number

  18. Regional Mechanisms on Fire and Haze Prevention and Control

  19. The Development of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution • Since the early 90s, ASEAN Member States have been working together to tackle transboundary haze pollution problem arising from land and forest fires • In 1995, ASEAN Environment Ministers agreed to intensify co-operation through concrete programmes spelt out in the Regional Haze Action Plan (RHAP) to prevent, monitor and mitigate land and forest fires

  20. The Development of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution • The RHAP was adopted at the First ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze in December 1997 in Singapore • In 1999, ASEAN took a step further by adopting the policy on zero-burningand banning of open burning as a long-term strategy during dry season

  21. The Development of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution • This ASEAN spirit of co-operation continued into the new millennium with ASEAN Environment Ministers agreeing to forge ahead with the formulation of an ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in October 2000 • Subsequently, an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), comprising government officials from the environmental and legal agencies of ASEAN Member States, was formed to draft the Agreement

  22. ASEAN Agreement onTransboundary Haze Pollution Objective: The Agreement aims to prevent and monitor transboundary haze pollution as a result of land and/or forest fires which should be mitigated, through concerted national efforts and intensified regional and international co-operation.

  23. The ASEAN Haze Agreement was signed by the ten ASEAN Members States on 10 June 2002during the occasion of the World Conference and Exhibition on Land and Forest Fire Hazards in Kuala Lumpur • The Agreement entered into force on 25 November 2003, following the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification by Thailand on 26 September 2003 • Only Indonesia that still not Ratify to the ASEAN Haze Agreement

  24. Conference of the Parties (COP) ASEAN Haze Fund ASEAN Secretariat Committee Under COP ACC Mechanism under ASEAN Haze Agreement ASMC COP Sub-Regional Arrangement Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) Technical Working Group (TWG)for the Mekong Sub-Region Technical Working Group (TWG)for the Southern Part of the Region

  25. Fire and Haze Situations in Thailand

  26. Hotspot Monitoring in Thailand • MODIS Aqua&Terra by DNP • Whole Country & 9 Provinces • 3 categories; Protected area, National forest reserve and agricultural area

  27. Hotspot Monitoring (Cont.) • NOAA • From ASMC Website • Whole ASEAN Region • Include Wind speed / Wind direction and Density of smoked haze

  28. Air Quality Monitoring Mobile Air Quality Units

  29. Public Dissemination of Forest Fire Data http://www.dnp.go.th/forestfire Data on DNP Website: Daily hotspot number, forest fire forecast and fire weather index

  30. http://www.dnp.go.th/forestfire Hotspot Information Fire Weather Index

  31. Public Dissemination of Air Quality Data 1. www.aqnis.pcd.go.th Haze information including air quality data, meteorological data, hotspot count and suggestions for health protection 2. www.aqmthai.com Real-time air quality data from PCD monitoring stations and AQI

  32. 3. Application: Air4Thai Free download for iOS and android

  33. Thailand National Prevention and Mitigation Measures

  34. Policies/Regulations/Plans • National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan (2010-2014) • National Master Plan for Open Burning Control • Action Plan on Fire and Haze Control (2012-2017) • Haze Pollution Prevention and Mitigation for Provinces in the Northern Part of Thailand, 2013 • National Master Plan on Forest Fire Control • Provincial Regulations • Community Rules

  35. Institutions • Single Command • National Level: Prime Minister/ Deputy Prime Minister • Provincial Level: Governor • Committee • National Disaster Management Committee chaired by Prime Minister • National Committee on Fire and Haze Control: chaired by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment • Stakeholders • Private sector/Community/Academic/Public

  36. Haze Pollution Prevention and Mitigation for Provinces in the Northern Part of Thailand, 2013

  37. 5. Promotion of Public Awareness and Public Participation Press conference/interview Zero Burning Campaign and Caravan Content in Public Relations Types of Public Relations • Seeking Cooperation, and network • Sources and health impact of haze • Non –burning techniques • Brochures • Animations and video • Spot and short advertisement Evaluation of Public Relations Channel of Public Relations • By man • Village Radio Speaker • Newspaper, Radio and Television • Other media • Evaluation of perception and understanding of the publics (receiving, knowing and performing)

  38. 6. Early warning of Haze Observation Level: report data (hotspot, air quality and meteorological data through website 80 < PM10 < 120 ug/m3 Warning Level: report data through website, e-mail, Fax and sms People are warned to avoid haze covered area/ Sensitive group should stay in the house 120 < PM10 < 200 ug/m3 Hazardous Level: report data through website, e-mail, Formal letter, Fax and sms Burning in forest areas is prohibited, Strictly enforce law People especially sensitive group are warned to stay in the house 200 < PM10 < 350 ug/m3 Severe Level: report data through website, e-mail, Formal letter, Fax and sms All burning is prohibited, Strictly enforce law People especially sensitive group are warned to stay in the house/ outdoor activities are advised to be cancelled PM10 > 350 ug/m3

  39. 8. Single Command Approach Single Command Prime Minister/Deputy Prime Minister Related Ministries Ministers Forward Command (Provincial Level) Governor District Level District Chief Officer Administrative authorities Agricultural authorities Agricultural authorities Forest protection and Forest fire control authorities Military/Police

  40. The Way Forward • Supporting area approach management with Unity and Integration • Network and Public Participation • Raising awareness on health and environmental impacts • Encouraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) • Promoting of Beneficial Pay Principle (BPP) and establishing of the Fund for fire and haze management • Promoting indigenous knowledge and Public education

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