Transcript Slide 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
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.
Hotspot and Smoke Haze detected by the Moderate
Haze
from
Land
and Forest(MODIS)
Fires
Resolution
Imaging
Spectro-radiometer
on the Terra satellite
Hot Spot
Smoke Haze
Smoke Haze
Hot Spot
Haze resulted from 3 main activities;
Solid Waste Burning
Agricultural Waste Burning
Forest Fire
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.
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
Haze in the Southern Part of
ASEAN Region
Southern Smoke Haze Episode in 1997
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
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.
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
• 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.
Changes in the respiratory morbidity in the south of Thailand and
the net health impacts from 1997 haze, Sept - Oct 1997
% change % net haze impacts
P-
value*
OPD visits
All respiratory
IPD admissions
+26
8
<0.01**
All respiratory
+33
7
<0.01**
Pneumonia
+36
18
<0.01**
Bronchitis/COPD
+40
12
0.01**
Asthma
+12
3
NS
* 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
Haze in the Northern Part of
ASEAN Region
(Mekong Sub-region)
Smoke Haze in Mekong Sub-Region
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
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
Regional Mechanisms on Fire
and Haze Prevention and Control
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
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-burning and banning of open burning as a long-term
strategy during dry season
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
ASEAN Agreement on
Transboundary 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.
• The ASEAN Haze Agreement was signed by the ten
ASEAN Members States on 10 June 2002 during 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
Conference of
the Parties
(COP)
Mechanism under
Committee Under COP
ASEAN Secretariat
ASEAN Haze Agreement
ACC
ASMC
COP
Sub-Regional Arrangement
Sub-Regional
Ministerial Steering
Committee (MSC)
Sub-Regional
Ministerial Steering
Committee (MSC)
Technical Working
Group (TWG)
for the Southern Part
of the Region
Technical Working
Group (TWG)
for the Mekong SubRegion
Fire and Haze Situations
in Thailand
Hotspot Monitoring in Thailand
MODIS Aqua&Terra by DNP
o
o
Whole Country & 9 Provinces
3 categories; Protected area,
National forest reserve and
agricultural area
Hotspot Monitoring (Cont.)
NOAA
o
From ASMC Website
o
Whole ASEAN Region
o
Include Wind speed /
Wind direction and
Density of smoked
haze
Air Quality Monitoring
Region
No. of Stations
North
14
North - east
3
Central
31
East
10
South
5
Total
63 Stations / 29 Provinces
Mobile Air
Quality Units
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
http://www.dnp.go.th/forestfire
Hotspot Information
Fire Weather Index
Public Dissemination of Air Quality Data
1. www.aqnis.pcd.go.th
2. www.aqmthai.com
Haze information including air
quality data, meteorological data,
hotspot count and suggestions for
health protection
Real-time air quality data from PCD
monitoring stations and AQI
3. Application: Air4Thai
Free download for iOS and android
Thailand National Prevention and
Mitigation Measures
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
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
Haze Pollution Prevention and Mitigation for
Provinces in the Northern Part of Thailand, 2013
Measures
1. 100 Day - Control
Burning
Activities
• Strictly prohibited burning in forest
areas and control burning in
communities, agricultural areas and
roadside during Jan – April
• Issued provincial regulations to
control burning by the Governors
• Strictly enforce law and regulation
related to fire and haze control
Measures
Activities
2. Forest Fire
• Fire detection and suppression:
Prevention and Control
Satellite, ground survey and hotline
• Fuel management strategy:
Early burning, Fire brake construction
• Public Relation Programme with
local communities in 9 Northern
Province
• Resources mobilisation: staffs
vehicle and equipments
Measure
Activities
3. Supporting Zero • 1,000 villages are evaluated and
supported to increase their capacity to
Burning Villages in control fire and haze
• 5,000 villagers are educated and raised
the Northern
awareness to control burning
Thailand
4. Cooperation with • Meetings with Private sector to discuss
about cooperation on fire and haze
control
Private sector
• Open burning control networks consist of
through Corporate
academic sector, private sector, local
authorities, NGOs and local communities
Social Responsibility
Programme (CSR)
5. Promotion of Public Awareness and Public Participation
Press conference/interview
Zero Burning Campaign and Caravan
Content in Public Relations



Seeking Cooperation, and network
Sources and health impact of haze
Non –burning techniques
Channel of Public Relations




By man
Village Radio Speaker
Newspaper, Radio and Television
Other media



Types of Public Relations
Brochures
Animations and video
Spot and short advertisement
Evaluation of Public Relations
 Evaluation of perception and
understanding of the publics
(receiving, knowing and
performing)
6. Early warning of Haze
80 < PM10 < 120 ug/m3
Observation Level: report data (hotspot, air quality
and meteorological data through website
120 < PM10 < 200 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
200 < PM10 < 350 ug/m3
Hazardous Level: report data through website, email, 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
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
Measures
7. Regional Cooperation
on Transboundary Haze
Control
Activities
o
Cooperation between Lao PDR
and Thailand: Thailand is in the
process of installation of one fully
equipped air quality monitoring station in
Lao PDR
o
Training Workshop on Air
Quality Monitoring and Haze
Pollution Control: 27 – 29 March
2013, Bangkok, Thailand
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
Forest protection and
Forest fire control
authorities
Agricultural authorities
Agricultural authorities
Military/Police
The Way Forward
1. Supporting area approach management with Unity and
Integration
2. Network and Public Participation
3. Raising awareness on health and environmental impacts
4. Encouraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
5. Promoting of Beneficial Pay Principle (BPP) and
establishing of the Fund for fire and haze management
6. Promoting indigenous knowledge and Public education