The Policy Workshop on Regional Dialogue on Tackling the Health Impacts of Haze Pollution in the Changing Climate of Southeast Asia and Australia was held on 24 September 2025 at the Aryaduta Menteng Hotel, Jakarta. Organized as part of the HEAL-HAZE and CANBREATHE projects, this workshop aimed to engage policymakers and other stakeholders to prioritise solutions against haze pollution for affected communities and schools, co-create a platform for policy dialogue and knowledge exchange, and identify opportunities for regional cooperation on tackling the health impacts of air pollution and climate change.
Climate change is driving an increase in the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme wildfires in Southeast Asia and Australia. The transboundary haze pollution resulting from wildfires and agricultural activities exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, causes premature mortality, and disproportionately affects women, children, Indigenous communities, and populations living in remote areas.
Haze pollution and its consequences for climate change and human health represent a shared challenge due to their transboundary nature, requiring interventions that operate across international jurisdictions. At the same time, the root causes of haze are deeply embedded in local social, political, industrial, and economic systems. As such, policymaking and community engagement serve as critical intermediaries in advancing adaptation and mitigation efforts.
In response to these challenges, a range of collaborative initiatives have been developed in Indonesia through partnerships among government institutions, research centers, and civil society organizations. This policy dialogue was convened by the Research Center for Climate Change at Universitas Indonesia in collaboration with the HEAL-HAZE and CANBREATHE research consortia, led by the University of Canberra (Australia). Its aim was to strengthen evidence-based discussions and foster the development of practical solutions to address the interconnected issues of haze, health, and climate change.
The dialogue brought together policymakers, academics, practitioners, and community representatives from diverse regions across Indonesia. Through inclusive engagement, this initiative sought to identify innovative policy options, enhance cross-sectoral collaboration, and build long-term strategies to safeguard public health and strengthen national resilience against recurring wildfires and haze events.
This joint workshop was organised as part of the HEAL-HAZE and CANBREATHE projects, with specific objectives to:
- Discuss the significance, methods and implementation of the HEAL-HAZE and CANBREATHE projects;
- Identify existing policies on climate change, air pollution and related health impacts;
- Engage stakeholders from government who are working on air pollution, climate change and related health impact;
- Discuss and prioritise adaptation solutions suitable for communities and schools; and
- Identify challenges and opportunities in the implementation of adaptation solutions for communities and schools.
The one-day workshop was structured into four sessions that combined keynote presentations, interactive discussions, and panel exchanges.
The event opened with remarks from Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at Universitas Indonesia
Session 1: Setting the Scene featured four keynote presentations that provided an overview of smoke haze pollution, its health impacts, and policy responses in the region.
- Prof. R. Budi Haryanto, Head of the Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia, presented an overview of smoke haze pollution from wildfires and agricultural burning in Southeast Asia.
- Prof. Sotiris Vardoulakis, Director of the Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Global Research Centre, University of Canberra, discussed the CANBREATHE and HEAL-HAZE projects in the context of climate change and public health.
- Prof. Bin Jalaludin from the University of New South Wales and the HEAL Network provided an overview of air pollution epidemiology with a focus on Southeast Asia and Australia
Session 2: Air, Climate & Policy Landscape, chaired by Prof. Sotiris Vardoulakis, invited participants to take part in a collaborative group activity aimed at identifying shared and differing key issues across countries. Participants worked in mixed groups to develop a theory of change based on the workshop’s main objectives. The activity encouraged knowledge exchange between participants from various sectors and countries, laying the foundation for potential future collaborations.
Facilitators for this session included Dr. Gopika Indu (University of Canberra), Oscar Casalderrey (Kopernik Solutions Lab), Dr. Fitri Kurniasari, Alfian Fauzi Firdaus and Talitha Syifa Salsabila (Universitas Indonesia).
Following lunch, Session 3: Air and Climate – Integrated Perspectives on Environmental Health and Policy, chaired by Dr. Nurul Winarni (RCCC UI), provided an overview of environmental monitoring, air pollution, and climate change adaptation in Indonesia. The session also included discussions on the health impacts of air pollution and strategies to mitigate them, led by representatives from the Directorate of Air Quality Protection and Management, Ministry of Environment, and the Directorate of Environmental Health, Ministry of Health.
Session 4: Interventions, Barriers and Enablers consisted of two panel discussions. The first, Community Empowerment for Environmental Health and Health Equity, was chaired by Dinda Shabrina (Nafas Indonesia) and explored the interlinkages between environmental health and equity, focusing on community empowerment and awareness. The panel featured dr. Grace Hananta (Bicara Udara), Azka Ghaida (Clean Air Asia), and Oscar Casalderrey (Kopernik Solutions Lab).
The second panel, Regional Cooperation on Tackling the Health Effects of Forest Fire, chaired by Prof. Bin Jalaludin, highlighted the importance of cross-country collaboration in mitigating health risks associated with transboundary air pollution. Panellists included Prof. Dr. Kraichat Tantrakarnapa (Mahidol University, Thailand), Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand), Dr. Vannak Ann (Institute of Technology of Cambodia), Asst. Prof. Dr. Keonakhone Khounvilay (National University of Laos, Lao PDR), Prof. Sotiris Vardoulakis (University of Canberra), and Prof. Budi Haryanto (Universitas Indonesia).
The workshop concluded with remarks from Prof. Budi Haryanto, who emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to address the growing challenges of haze, health, and climate change in the region.
