Air Pollution’s Growing Toll Demands Regional Collaboration Across Southeast Asia

Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health (CCEH) led study published in Environment International and this time featured in ASEAN–This Week in Asia (Health & Environment) revealed that under the high emissions scenario, characterized by a warmer and drier climate, Southeast Asia is projected to lose US$1.023 trillion by 2050—an increase of US$591 billion from 2019.

While average PM2.5 levels may decline due to rainfall induced by warmer conditions, pollution hotspots—particularly in southern Indonesia and southern Thailand—will continue to see higher pollution levels, increasing premature deaths and economic losses. Prof. Joseph Sung, Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU, noted that, “Those who suffer from health complications take longer to recover, so the economic impact can be much higher than in developed countries.”

The study also emphasizes that air pollution in Southeast Asia is often transboundary, with recurring haze episodes affecting Malaysia and Singapore during the dry season. Prof. Steve Yim said, “This research aims to encourage stronger discussions and partnerships between nations to address the shared health and economic challenges of air pollution”.

Thus, CCEH aims for enhanced regional collaboration among Southeast Asian countries to develop integrated climate and air quality strategies, leveraging science-driven approaches to protect both population health and economic stability in a warming world