As haze returns to Singapore, is crisis ‘quietly accepted’ by Asean as inevitable?

In recent weeks, Singaporean Cindy has been troubled by an odour lingering in the air during her evening walks to the gym.
“It’s the same situation…

In recent weeks, Singaporean Cindy has been troubled by an odour lingering in the air during her evening walks to the gym.

“It’s the same situation every year, but I would say that the fogginess and burning smell have been getting stronger for the last year or so,” said the 33-year-old resident who lives in the southern estate of Telok Blangah.

“I have a baby, so it concerns me a lot, and I know many other families feel the same,” she said. “I always keep our windows closed, which is not very good for our health because we need fresh air. But it’s impossible to get fresh air nowadays.”

Singaporeans have reported a similar experience and haze sightings across the island in recent days, with many voicing health concerns.

Environmentalists have warned of worsening air quality, exacerbated by warmer temperatures, and urged the region to commit to finding solutions to combat transboundary haze.

In February, Singapore’s National Environmental Agency said smoke from nearby peatland and vegetation fires might be the cause of burning smells. On Tuesday, the agency warned of a haze risk and confirmed that smoke plumes from hotspots in eastern Johor continued to drift towards Singapore.

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