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SINGAPORE : The third quarter of this year could be a dry season which could lead to haze resulting from hotspots in Indonesia.
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre has forecast that the prevailing La Nina is expected to gradually weaken and return to neutral conditions by that time.
This was on the agenda at the 4th meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Tuesday. The committee recognised the urgency of tackling land and forest fires that result in haze pollution, and also preventing and mitigating such events.
In fact, Indonesia's efforts last year reduced the number of hotspots by half, in both Sumatra and Kalimantan, compared to the year before. Wetter weather conditions also helped.
Indonesia wants to reduce its number of hotspots further. Under its National Action Plan on Climate Change, Indonesia has targeted to reduce the number of hotspots by 50% in 2009, 75% in 2012 and 95% in 2025, using 2006 as a baseline.
Central and local government agencies, as well as the private sector will also spend more money - to the tune of 800 billion rupiah (S$120.6 million) - on land and forest fire control this year.
The ministers are scheduled to meet again on 26 June 2008 in Singapore. - CNA /ls
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