\n<\/p>\n
Territorial jurisdiction remains the fundamental limitation of the law, said NUS’ Mr Tseng.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Singapore cannot, through domestic legislation alone, compel investigations or enforce its laws on foreign soil without regard to another country’s sovereignty, he added.<\/span><\/p>\n Companies without meaningful commercial or financial connections to Singapore may also remain difficult to reach, he said.<\/span><\/p>\n “But these issues are inherent in seeking to address a transboundary environmental issue, and not something a domestic piece of legislation is inherently equipped to resolve completely,” Mr Tseng said.<\/span><\/p>\n The Act\u2019s scope will also widen to include the \u201crisk of haze\u201d, which means an entity can be held liable for contributing to an overseas fire that poses a risk of haze pollution in Singapore, even if the haze has not reached the country.<\/span><\/p>\n While the amended laws aim to extend the timeline to before Singapore sees significant levels of haze, prevention is still being discussed at the stage where a fire is already present, said SMU\u2019s Assoc Prof Lim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She called for more consideration at the ecosystem level, acknowledging that this was \u201cmore difficult\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For example, this could include restoring and protecting peatland ecosystems so that they are less flammable, and drawing on indigenous knowledge of communities that practise swidden farming, she added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Swidden farming is a traditional agricultural method where forest plots are temporarily cleared and burnt to create nutrient-rich ash for growing crops, then left to regenerate while farmers move to a new area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Assoc Prof Lim also stressed that Indonesia has the \u201cprimary responsibility\u201d for regulating, monitoring and restoring peatland ecosystems, and holding perpetrators responsible.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMuch still depends on Indonesia, including the extent to which it doesn’t stand in the way of what Singapore is trying to achieve,\u201d she added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The amendments add more tools and \u201cconsiderable muscle\u201d to Singapore\u2019s powers, but they are not a \u201cmagic bullet on their own\u201d, said SIIA\u2019s Mr Tay.<\/span><\/p>\n They do not guarantee that haze will never recur. \u201cCooperation within the ASEAN framework and with Indonesia and other neighbouring countries will also be essential,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n Several challenges remain, such as access to overseas evidence, corporate transparency and the underlying incentives from unsustainable land-use practices, said SUSS\u2019 Assoc Prof Razwana. Tackling these would require measures beyond legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n Stronger information-sharing arrangements across the region could improve access to concession maps, corporate ownership records and fire investigation findings, she added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSingapore’s amended framework provides stronger legal tools, but lasting progress will depend on aligning enforcement with responsible business practices, environmental protection and regional cooperation,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Read Full Article At Source <\/a>
\n