Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014

Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014
Parliament of Singapore
  • An Act concerning conduct which causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore, and to provide for related matters.
Enacted byParliament of Singapore
Enacted5 August 2014
Assented to10 September 2014
Commenced25 September 2014
Status: In force

The Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 (THPA) is a statute of the Parliament of Singapore that criminalizes conduct which causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore, and to provide for related matters such as deterrence. The law is designed specifically to allow legal in suing companies for environmental pollution.

Background

Since 1972, Malaysia and Singapore suffered recurrent episodes of severe air pollution due to agricultural burning in Sumatra and Kalimantan, Indonesia.[1] The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was intended to prevent such pollution. However, as of 2006, Indonesia and the Philippines had not ratified the Agreement. Following a severe occurrence in 2006, economist and professor at the National University of Singapore, Ivan Png, wrote a series of opinion articles in the Malaysian and Singapore media to advocate that environmental laws be extended to outlaw trans-boundary emissions.[2][3][4][5]

Overview

In August 2014, the Parliament of Singapore enacted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act. The Act seeks to deter firms or entities in or outside Singapore from carrying out activities that contribute to transboundary haze affecting Singapore. The law targets companies, not countries,[6] which pollute and those that condone pollution by other companies or individuals that they have management control over. Failure to prevent or stop burning may hence lead the culprit to being guilty of an offence under the law, unless steps are taken to stamp out the practice.

The National Environment Agency with the courts are empowered thus in obtaining information on their concessions upon request without the need of relying on the Indonesian authorities, as well as imprisoning and/or fining targeted companies or individuals which pollute, or whose subsidiaries and/or suppliers pollute.[7]

Uses of the Act

With the onset of the El Nino again in 2015, the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act allowed the building of local capacity in dealing with forest fires in Indonesian provinces such as Jambi and Riau. The effectiveness of the new law may depend on the ability to accurately identify errant firms or entities, as well as on law enforcement and cooperation from the Indonesian counterparts.[8] Losses in 2015 estimated at S$700 million were suggested by Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli due to the haze.[9]

In 2015, the National Environment Agency issued legal notices to six Indonesian businesses regarding fires on their lands. By March 2017, the Agency had closed investigations into two companies -- PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and PT Wachyuni Mandira.[10] As of September 2021, the cases of the other four companies -- PT Bumi Andalas Permai, PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Woods Industries and PT Rimba Hutani Mas -- remained open. The four companies are suppliers to Asia Pulp and Paper.[11][12][13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lee, Min Kok (2015-10-02). "Haze in Singapore: A problem dating back 40 years". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Throwing the book at polluters", Straits Times, September 9, 2006.
  3. ^ "Going beyond the pale", Straits Times, October 24, 2006 [with Geh Min].
  4. ^ "Need to enact laws to fight the haze", Star, October 9, 2006.
  5. ^ Cherian, Joseph, Ang Swee Hoon, Jack Loo. "Transboundary haze: Asean needs to act". Retrieved 2018-10-05.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Chan, Francis. "Singapore's Environment Minister Masagos Zulkifli says errant firms must be stopped from producing haze". Straits Times. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  7. ^ Sharpe, Samuel (25 September 2015). "Anti-haze law is new, but has potential". Straits Times. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  8. ^ Sembiring, Margareth. "Timely for S'pore, Indonesia govts to prove that haze policies work". Straits Times. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Haze cost Singapore estimated $700m last year: Minister Masagos". Asiaone. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Haze-linked firm 'opaque with information' | The Straits Times". Straits Times. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  11. ^ "NEA asks a 6th company PT Bumi Andalas Permai to take measures to mitigate haze conditions". Straits Times. 2015-10-12. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  12. ^ "Indonesia draws the line on Singapore's 2015 haze investigation". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  13. ^ Baffoni, Sergio. "APP still under investigation in Singapore | Environmental Paper Network". Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  14. ^ "Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on NEA's Investigation on Transboundary Haze in 2015 by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment". www.mse.gov.sg. Retrieved 2022-02-20.

External links

  • Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014
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