Region can do much to create and sell carbon credits

ACCUSATIONS too often accompany the dry season, especially when the problem of trans-boundary haze returns across our region. Accusations are traded not only within Indonesia, which usually suffers the worst of the fires and the heaviest pollution, but also between neighbouring Asean governments.

Businesses too can be implicated, and not only the producers of commodities such as pulp and paper or palm oil. Financial institutions, traders and buyers of resources also face scrutiny on their portfolios and supply chains, including possible investigations from regulators, non-governmental activists and the media.

The prospects for this year will therefore come as good news. Our Haze Outlook 2021 Report concludes that the risk of a severe and prolonged trans-boundary haze incident is low; on a scale of red, amber and green, the signs are that the months ahead will be green.