是什么导致了东南亚的有毒雾霾？

The problem of cross-country smoke, or haze, has caused a new disagreement in Southeast Asia.
跨国雾霾问题在东南亚引起了新的分歧。

Malaysia's environment minister wrote to Indonesia's government this week calling for action to help reduce smoke across Malaysia.
马来西亚环境部长本周致信印尼政府，呼吁采取行动帮助减少马来西亚各地的雾霾。

The letter comes just weeks after countries in Southeast Asia agreed to a haze-free area by 2030.
就在发出这封信的几周前，东南亚国家同意在2030年前建立一个无雾霾区。

What is going on?
发生了什么事？

In recent weeks, air quality reports in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia have reached readings above 150. This puts conditions at a level where people can experience unhealthy effects. And those with existing health problems could suffer greater greater health problems.
最近几周，马来西亚和印度尼西亚部分地区的空气质量报告的读数已达到150以上。这将使人们面临不健康影响。而那些存在健康问题的人可能会遭受更严重的健康问题。

On the Indonesian side of Borneo Island, visibility was reduced to less than 10 meters. Schools are closed in both Indonesia and Malaysia to reduce the health effects on young children.
在印尼一侧的婆罗洲岛，能见度降低到不足10米。印度尼西亚和马来西亚的学校都停课以减少对幼儿健康的影响。

Malaysia has blamed the haze on Indonesia, saying smoke from forest fires is being pushed across the border.
马来西亚将雾霾归咎于印尼，称森林大火产生的雾霾正被吹向边境。

Every few years, during the dry season, smoke from "slash and burn" land clearing takes over much of the area. Slash and burn is a method in agriculture to cut down and burn plants to clear land for planting.
每隔几年，在旱季，“刀耕火种”清理土地产生的雾霾就会占据该地区的大部分地区。“刀耕火种”是农业中砍伐和焚烧植物以清理土地进行种植的一种方法。

This method is used to clear land for planting palm trees. Products from palm trees include oil, pulp, and paper. But this method threatens public health, education, and businesses like tourism.
这种方法用于清理土地种植棕榈树。棕榈树的产品包括油、纸浆和纸张。但这种方法威胁到公共卫生、教育和旅游业等行业。

How are officials dealing with the problem?
官员们是如何处理这个问题的？

Even after Malaysia called on Indonesia this week to avoid "normalizing" the haze, Indonesian officials have denied any responsibility.
即使在马来西亚本周呼吁印尼避免雾霾“正常化”之后，印尼官员也否认对此负有任何责任。

Indonesia's environment minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said recently that forest fires had decreased and no haze was found moving toward any neighboring country.
印尼环境部长西蒂·努尔巴亚最近表示，森林火灾已经减少，没有发现雾霾向任何邻国移动。

She said Indonesia has been dealing with the fires by dropping water bombs from helicopters.
她说，印尼一直在通过直升机投掷水弹来应对火灾。

In the past, Indonesia has taken legal action against companies suspected of illegal burning. But each year fires continue with different degrees of severity.
过去，印度尼西亚曾对涉嫌非法焚烧的公司采取法律行动。但每年火灾都会以不同严重程度继续发生。

In 2015 and 2019, Indonesia saw large fires that burned millions of hectares of land. It caused record-breaking pollution and some places were surrounded by toxic yellow smoke.
2015年和2019年，印尼发生了大火，烧毁了数百万公顷的土地。它造成了破纪录的污染，一些地方被有毒的黄色雾霾包围。

Why does this keep happening?
为什么这种情况不断发生？

Under Indonesian law, burning by small, local farmers is permitted. But it must happen on an area no greater than two hectares and necessary prevention measures must be in place.
根据印尼法律，允许当地小农户焚烧。但它必须发生在不超过两公顷的地区，并且必须采取必要的预防措施。

All large farm holders must follow sustainable palm oil standards, which do not permit burning.
所有大型农场经营者都必须遵守可持续的棕榈油标准，不允许焚烧。

The rules mean that slash and burn methods continue to be used by small-holder farmers. Additionally, following the guidelines is voluntary.
这些规定意味着小农户继续使用刀耕火种的方法。此外，遵循指导方针是自愿的。

Unclear supply chains, land claims, and laws mean that large companies can sometimes avoid responsibility for illegal land clearing. The large operations are sometimes owned by companies based in countries like Malaysia and Singapore.
不明确的供应链、土地主张和法律意味着大公司有时可以逃避非法清理土地的责任。这些大型业务有时由马来西亚和新加坡等国的公司所有。

How is the area responding?
该地区的反应如何？

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently launched a center for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (known as ACC THPC).
东南亚国家联盟（东盟）最近成立了一个跨境雾霾污染控制中心。

Its aim is to help members prevent, deal with, and follow cross-country haze. The center is in line with ASEAN's agreement to reach a haze-free area by 2030.
其目的是帮助成员国预防、处理和跟踪跨境雾霾。该中心符合东盟关于到2030年实现无雾霾区的协议。

This week ASEAN agriculture and forestry ministers also agreed to take collective action to reduce and eventually remove crop burning.
本周，东盟农业和林业部长也同意采取集体行动，减少并最终消除焚烧作物的现象。

Is climate change making it worse?
气候变化会让情况变得更糟吗？

Environmentalists say Indonesia is home to the world's third largest rainforest area and the government needs to take more action. The country is experiencing increased dry conditions because of a weather system called El Nino.
环保人士表示，印尼是世界第三大雨林区，政府需要采取更多行动。由于一种名为厄尔尼诺的天气系统，该国正经历着日益干旱的天气。

Greenpeace Indonesia says climate warming is making forest and land fires more intense, which is adding to the climate crisis.
印尼绿色和平组织表示，气候变暖使森林和陆地火灾更加严重，这加剧了气候危机。