RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, inaugurated the Secretariat Office of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, in Jakarta. This inauguration marks a strategic step for Indonesia in strengthening ASEAN regional collaboration to address transboundary haze pollution in a more coordinated, swift, and effective manner.

The minister affirmed that the presence of this secretariat is not just an institutional symbol, but Indonesia's tangible commitment as the host in accelerating the operationalization of the regional coordination center.

"This is a symbol of the collective determination of ASEAN countries to create a haze-free region through more solid cooperation and faster response," Hanif stated.

The ACC THPC was established within the framework of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) and designed as a regional command center for controlling forest and land fires (karhutla) that have cross-border impacts. Through this command center, coordination between countries will be strengthened, from information exchange to the deployment of emergency aid during fires.

Strategically, the ACC THPC has three main functions: monitoring and assessment through the delivery of real-time hotspot and air quality data, technical coordination between countries including the exchange of experts and firefighting technology, and an early warning system to prevent the escalation of fires during the dry season.

The presence of the ACC THPC Secretariat in Jakarta is also expected to integrate data systems and rapid responses between national agencies such as BNPB, KLH/BPLH, the Ministry of Forestry, and partners in ASEAN member countries. This integration is crucial in ensuring that handling forest fires is conducted across borders with a more synchronized and effective approach.

As a country with the largest tropical forest area in Southeast Asia, Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to continuously reduce the number of fires through bolstering prevention, extinguishing, law enforcement, and ecosystem restoration. This step also reinforces Indonesia's position as a regional leader in the issue of transboundary haze control.