CSOs and Polycentric Haze Governance in Southeast Asia

Over the past three decades, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has sought to address transboundary haze pollution resulting from land and forest fires in Southeast Asia. While ASEAN has served as the primary platform for regional discussions on haze, private initiatives have played an increasingly important role in governing land and forest fires across the region. This study aims to provide empirical insights into the roles and involvement of civil society organisations (CSOs) in managing haze in Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. It argues that CSOs have functioned as decision-making centres and have undertaken a range of indispensable roles. Their power and strategies are determined by various factors, including broader institutions and considerations related to collaborative partners. Despite certain limitations and shortcomings, their efforts have contributed to the advancement of polycentric environmental governance – a development that diverges from the prevailing trend of democratic regression in Southeast Asia.