Making companies behind the haze pay: Can Singapore succeed? | Deep Dive

Since the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act was enacted in 2014, no company has yet been successfully prosecuted. What is Singapore doing differently this time, to pursue the culprits behind this year’s haze? Ten companies linked to the fires have received preventive measure notices, while Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam has warned that Singapore will use every legal, regulatory and economic measure to pressure recalcitrant companies to act. Steven Chia and Tiffany Ang speak with environmental law expert Sean Tseng of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law to find out why unclear land ownership and corporate structures make criminal prosecutions difficult, and how the use of other levers – such as banks and the Singapore Exchange - could put commercial pressure on haze-linked companies. More from Deep Dive on the haze: Learn how to better protect yourself from the unhealthy air, with advice from an air pollution expert: https://youtu.be/yY-AJ2MPUi8 Highlights: 00:00 Intro 02:50 What can haze prevention notices achieve? 06:00 Why haze cases difficult to prosecute 08:15 The problem with identifying landowners 10:00 Can Singapore enforce fines overseas? 13:30 How SGX could pressure companies 15:45 What role can banks play? 17:06 Could supply chain transparency make a difference? 23:37 Can haze victims sue for damages? ============= #DeepDivePodcast #singapore #haze Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Visit our website: https://cna.asia Download our app: https://cna.asia/app Get our editors' picks of stories via chat apps: Telegram: https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp: https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us on these platforms: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia