At the 27th MSC meeting in Bali, Malaysia proposed a science diplomacy and sustainable haze fund to strengthen ASEAN’s haze commitments, addressing rising hotspots, El Nino risks, and 2026 AATHP prevention efforts.
Key Points
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At the 27th MSC meeting in Bali, Malaysia proposed establishing a science diplomacy and sustainable haze fund.
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The initiative aims to strengthen ASEAN’s haze commitments amid increasing hotspots and El Nino risks.
- Efforts focus on prevention under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) frameworks targeting 2026.
At the 27th Meeting of the Ministers of Science and Technology Cooperation (MSC) held in Bali, Malaysia put forward a significant proposal to establish a science diplomacy and sustainable haze fund aimed at bolstering ASEAN’s collective response to persistent transboundary haze pollution. This initiative emerges against the backdrop of a worrying trend marked by an increase in hotspot occurrences and the exacerbating environmental stressors linked to the El Niño phenomenon. Recognizing the complex interplay between environmental, socio-economic, and diplomatic factors, Malaysia’s proposal underscores the need for enhanced multilateral collaboration grounded in scientific research and innovation.
The proposed fund is envisioned as a strategic mechanism to support sustainable haze mitigation measures, encouraging equitable resource-sharing and technological exchange among member states. It aims to operationalize and strengthen ASEAN’s commitments detailed in the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), particularly within the framework for prevention and control planned through 2026. By leveraging science diplomacy, the initiative seeks to foster greater transparency, data-sharing, and coordinated policy actions, thereby building resilience against the cyclical haze crises fueled by human activities and climate variability. In this context, Malaysia’s proposal not only reflects a proactive approach to environmental governance but also a sophisticated recognition of the critical nexus between science, diplomacy, and sustainable regional development in Southeast Asia.