Issue 217: Time to face palm oil’s transboundary problem

Sustainability policy

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act isn’t working. Now what?

A severe season of the haze in Singapore and Malaysia inevitably brings on watery eyes, scratchy throats and angry fists pounding about the injustice of fires in Indonesia spreading harmful air pollution to neighbouring countries.

Tears and coughs are easily treated, but cross-border pollution is tougher to remedy. As Singapore pursues “every legal and regulatory lever”, tougher requirements on traceability backed by economic consequences should be explored.