Haze has darkened the skies across Southeast Asia for decades. While the smoke keeps returning, our response to it has changed over the years. From investigating and collecting evidence of corporations linked to transboundary haze, and challenging the banks financing forest destruction, and pushing for stronger laws, to mobilising public pressure, demanding corporate accountability, and recognition of a healthy environment as a human right not just in Malaysia but at the ASEAN level.

This timeline looks back at the moments that helped turn haze from a recurring crisis into a wider fight for clean air and environmental justice. Follow the journey through investigations, creative resistance, people-powered action, and policy breakthroughs, to see what changed, who helped change it, and why the fight for haze-free air is far from over.

In June, we sent the an open letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), with demands on how to address haze issue once and for all. Now our NRES minister is talking about monitoring the situation, having discussions to increase efforts, and old tactics like cloud seeding operations to patch the symptoms of a persistent problem rather than addressing it at its roots or figuring out long-term measures to stop what’s affecting all of us.

What we’re asking for is systemic enforcement through a Clean Air Act with transboundary haze mechanisms for corporate accountability both in the country, and corporations operating outside of Malaysia who are linked to activities resulting in transboundary haze.

Haze and Human Rights Activity in Malaysia. © Darshen Chelliah / Greenpeace
Clean air for Malaysia

Sign the petition today to fight for clean air. Air pollution is a silent and indiscriminate killer, affecting all of us. And, we need our government to act swiftly to protect our basic right to clean air.

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Haze and Human Rights Activity in Malaysia. © Darshen Chelliah / Greenpeace
Clean air for Malaysia

Sign the petition today to fight for clean air. Air pollution is a silent and indiscriminate killer, affecting all of us. And, we need our government to act swiftly to protect our basic right to clean air.

Sign petition