Could spending more to prevent haze save Southeast Asia billions?

The brief

Southeast Asia has spent decades dealing with recurring haze – and the economic losses can run into billions of dollars. Indonesia’s 2015 fires were estimated to have cost its economy US$16.1 billion, while the 2019 fires caused another US$5.2 billion in damage and economic losses. CNA’s Olivia Marzuki examines whether greater investment in prevention could reduce the cost of haze, why such measures remain difficult…