Sub-Mekong region cooperates in trans-boundary haze pollution

Smoke haze pollution in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)

The 5th Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution in the Mekong Sub-Region (MSC Mekong) convened on August 20 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, bringing together delegates from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Present at the meeting was also the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

The participants discussed and shared initiatives undertaken by the MSC Mekong nations to mitigate land and forest fires and control smoke haze pollution during the dry season.

They agreed to work towards achieving the target of hotspot reduction approved at the 4th MSC Mekong Meeting in Laos last year and strengthen regional cooperation and national efforts in meeting the revised targets by an agreed timeline.

Ministers spoke highly of the significant achievement made through the local, national and region projects and activities as well as the supports from ASEAN partners.

Highlights are the ASEAN Peatland Forests Project (APFP) funded by the Global Environment Facility (2009-2014) through International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); the EU-supported SEApeat Project (2011-2015) and the ASEAN Programme on Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems (APSMPE) (2014-2020).

They also pointed out the need to develop a roadmap on ASEAN cooperation for trans-boundary haze pollution control.-VNA