# Indonesia establishes regional smoke monitoring hub to combat transboundary air pollution within Southeast Asia

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/303704-indonesia-establishes-regional-smoke-monitoring-hub-to-combat-transboundary-air-pollution-within-southeast-asia
- Published: 2026-04-26T18:36:42+07:00
- Author: Bahar Karaman

Indonesia inaugurated the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution
Control Secretariat in Jakarta, strengthening regional cooperation to combat cross-
border haze from forest fires. The centre will provide real-time monitoring, technical
coordination, and early warning systems, shifting ASEAN toward proactive haze management
across Southeast Asia.

## Key Points

• Indonesia has inaugurated the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze
Pollution Control (ACC THPC) Secretariat in Jakarta, aimed at combating cross-border
haze from forest fires disrupting public health, aviation, and economies across 
Southeast Asia.

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• The centre will serve as a regional command hub for real-time fire monitoring,
technical coordination, early warning systems, and cross-border firefighting efforts,
shifting ASEAN’s approach from reactive to proactive haze management.

• By hosting the secretariat, Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to regional environmental
governance, strengthening collaboration with ASEAN partners and national agencies
to achieve a long-sought haze-free Southeast Asia.

### Indonesia Launches ASEAN Haze Pollution Control Secretariat

**A landmark step toward regional environmental governance**
Indonesia has inaugurated
the Secretariat Office of the **ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze
Pollution Control (ACC THPC)**, marking a significant milestone in Southeast Asia’s
efforts to combat cross-border haze pollution. Led by Minister of Environment **
Hanif Faisol Nurofiq**, the inauguration took place in East Jakarta on April 22,
2026. The initiative operates under the **ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze 
Pollution**, a legally binding framework committing member states to coordinated
prevention and mitigation efforts.

**Addressing an urgent and recurring regional crisis**
Transboundary haze, driven
by forest and land fires, has long disrupted **public health, aviation, and economic
activity** across the region. Authorities have flagged heightened fire risks this
year due to an intensified El Niño cycle. The secretariat is designed to serve as
a **regional command hub**, enabling real-time information sharing, cross-border
firefighting coordination, and emergency assistance mobilization during major fire
incidents.

---

### Core Functions and Operational Mandate of the ACC THPC

**From reactive management to proactive risk mitigation**
The ACC THPC is mandated
to deliver three essential functions: **real-time monitoring of fire hotspots and
air quality**, technical coordination of expertise and firefighting capabilities,
and the strengthening of **early warning systems** during peak dry seasons. Together,
these capabilities represent a strategic shift from crisis response toward **preventive
risk management**, equipping ASEAN with the tools needed to anticipate and contain
haze events before they escalate.

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**Building integrated cross-border cooperation**
The secretariat’s establishment
in Jakarta is expected to deepen collaboration between Indonesian agencies, including
the **National Disaster Management Agency, the Ministry of Environment, and the 
Ministry of Forestry**, and their ASEAN counterparts. This institutional alignment
is considered essential for ensuring that **fire prevention and suppression efforts
remain coordinated** across borders, particularly in multi-jurisdictional haze-affected
zones.

---

### Indonesia’s Leadership Role in Regional Environmental Governance

**Reaffirming national commitment to haze reduction**
Indonesia has reiterated its
dedication to tackling forest and land fires through **stronger prevention measures,
faster response mechanisms, stricter law enforcement, and ecosystem restoration**.
By hosting the ACC THPC secretariat, Jakarta is positioning itself as the **primary
coordination hub** for haze control in Southeast Asia, signaling a clear intent 
to assume a more central role in shaping regional environmental policy.

**A renewed ASEAN consensus on institutionalized cooperation**
Broad regional support
for the centre reflects a growing **ASEAN consensus** on the need for more structured,
operationally focused collaboration. Minister Hanif emphasized that the centre will
enable **faster data exchange and more coordinated resource deployment** during 
emergencies. While a haze-free Southeast Asia has remained an elusive goal despite
decades of efforts, this initiative offers renewed momentum through a more effective
and institutionalized regional framework.