Singapore Faces Worst Air Pollution as Haze from Indonesia Threatens Major Events

POLICY WIRE — Singapore, Singapore — Singapore, one of the world’s most affluent cities, is currently experiencing the worst air quality globally due to a thick layer of toxic smog originating from wildfires in neighboring Indonesia.

The city-state is preparing for a busy weekend of high-profile events, including international conferences and the prestigious Formula One night race, but is now grappling with severe air pollution. On Friday morning, the air quality index (AQI) reached 216, classified as “very unhealthy” by Swiss monitoring service IQAir.

Singapore has topped the list of most polluted cities this week, with Kuala Lumpur, also impacted by the same fires, ranking second. The smog has obscured the skyline, turning iconic structures like Marina Bay Sands into faint silhouettes. The annual phenomenon of peatland fires in Indonesia, often linked to palm oil production, has intensified this year due to an expected “super” El Niño event, which is bringing extreme dryness to the region.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency reported that smoke plumes from southern and central Sumatra and West Kalimantan are drifting toward the city. While outdoor entertainment at the F1 event may be affected, the race itself is not expected to be canceled. Despite past haze-related disruptions, such as in 2015 and 2019, the Singapore Tourism Board states it has contingency plans in place based on pollution levels.

F1 drivers have shown little concern, with Valtteri Bottas noting the conditions aren’t yet extreme, and Lewis Hamilton focusing on other challenges. Meanwhile, Malaysia has also been heavily impacted, with schools in several states closing due to worsening air quality.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)