The Asean Way and Haze Mitigation Efforts

Helena Muhamad Varkkey

doi:10.32890/jis.8.2012.7927

Abstract

Transboundary haze pollution is an almost annual occurrence in Southeast Asia. Haze originates from peat and forest fires mostly in Indonesia, with Malaysia and Singapore suffering the worst of its effects. Most of these fires are manmade, and linked to land clearing activities of local and foreign commercial oil palm plantations. The regional nature of haze has concentrated mitigation activities at the ASEAN level. However these initiatives continually fail to effectively mitigate haze. This article argues that haze mitigation has been problematic due to the ASEAN style of regional engagement, which prioritizes the maintenance of national sovereignty. States are compelled to act in their national interests, as opposed to the collective regional interests. The economic importance of the oil palm sector to the states involved, coupled with traditionally close relationships between key economic actors and political elites, meant that the maintenance of the status quo, where major plantation companies could continue to clear land using the cost-effective method of burning, was of crucial national interest. Therefore, the ASEAN style of regional engagement has enabled member states to shape ASEAN initiatives to preserve the interests of these political and economic elite, while the public continue to suffer the haze.

Highlights

Transboundary haze is the Southeast Asian region’s first and most publicly-identifiable regional environmental crisis (Elliott, 2003)
Using data obtained from fieldwork consisting of archival research and semi-structured interviews conducted in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore among government officials, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representatives, journalists, and academicians, this paper argues that states chose to adhere to the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) Way principles while shaping these initiatives
This article argues that ASEAN is not the appropriate forum to effectively carry out haze mitigation, because the ASEAN style of regionalism allows for states to act in the interests of their political and economic elites, as compared to the collective interests

Summary

Introduction

Transboundary haze is the Southeast Asian region’s first and most publicly-identifiable regional environmental crisis (Elliott, 2003). This paper argues that the states involved have chosen to adhere to the ASEAN Way when dealing with the haze to preserve crucial economic interests in the oil palm plantation sector. Using data obtained from fieldwork consisting of archival research and semi-structured interviews conducted in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore among government officials, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) representatives, journalists, and academicians, this paper argues that states chose to adhere to the ASEAN Way principles while shaping these initiatives. As a result, these initiatives have largely been ineffective in curbing haze, but effective in protecting the interests of the business elites. This article argues that ASEAN is not the appropriate forum to effectively carry out haze mitigation, because the ASEAN style of regionalism allows for states to act in the interests of their political and economic elites, as compared to the collective interests

The Regionalism of Environmental Issues

ASEAN Way Regionalism

Findings

Conclusion