AGP Executive Report

Regional Haze Emergency: Indonesia’s months-long forest and peat fires have triggered Southeast Asia’s highest haze alert, as dangerous smoke spreads across the region. Timor-Leste closed schools nationwide for three days from Oct. 15 and urged families to keep children indoors and wear masks outside. Fire Response: Four people have died fighting fires in Indonesia, where authorities are trialling dry ice to disperse haze and say they will consider foreign assistance. The fires are worsened by drought and can smoulder deep in peatlands, making them difficult to extinguish. Climate and Health: Timor-Leste ranks among the five countries most closely integrating public health into its climate plan, according to a new global scorecard. The country has also called for better access to climate finance for vulnerable nations.

Haze Crisis: Smoke from Indonesia’s worst forest fires in more than a decade forced Timor-Leste to close schools nationwide for three days, as Dili’s air turned yellow and residents wore masks. Authorities urged families to keep children indoors. The fires have also killed four people fighting a blaze in East Java; Indonesia says it will consider foreign assistance as it battles the peatland fires, worsened by drought. Fire Response: Indonesia is testing dry ice to address the haze, while a fire-retardant gel is also being trialled. Whether either can tackle deep-smouldering peat fires remains uncertain. Climate and Health: Timor-Leste scored 22 out of 32 in a global review of how well countries’ climate plans address public health, placing it among the top five performers.

Wildfire Emergency: Four people have died fighting Indonesia’s worst forest fires in more than a decade, as hundreds of hotspots fuel smoke drifting across the region. Jakarta says it will consider foreign assistance. Haze in Timor-Leste: The smoke has prompted a three-day school closure, with authorities urging families to keep children indoors and people to wear masks outside. Dili residents report heavy pollution and skies dimmed by haze. Climate and Health: Timor-Leste ranks among the top five countries for including public health in its climate plan, scoring 22 out of 32 in a global assessment.

Haze Emergency: Timor-Leste suspended in-person classes nationwide from Oct. 15–17 as smoke from Indonesia’s forest and peat fires worsened air quality. Dili’s Air Quality Index reached 165–174, levels considered harmful to health. Authorities urged families to keep children indoors and residents to wear masks outside. El Niño-driven drought has intensified the fires, which have also caused respiratory illness and hazardous pollution across the region. Climate and Health: Timor-Leste scored 22 out of 32 in a global review of how countries factor public health into climate plans, placing it among the top five performers. Climate Finance: Timor-Leste called for greater access to climate finance for vulnerable countries.

Haze Emergency: Timor-Leste has suspended in-person classes nationwide from Oct. 15–17 as smoke from Indonesian fires worsens air quality. Dili recorded AQI readings of 165–174, considered harmful to health; officials urged families to keep children indoors and advised people to wear masks outside. Regional Fires: El Niño-driven drought has intensified forest and peat fires in Indonesia, spreading hazardous haze across the region. Indonesia reports more than 280,000 respiratory problems since Aug. 18; authorities are considering foreign assistance and testing dry-ice dispersal. ASEAN ministers are due to discuss tackling transboundary haze next month. Climate and Health: Timor-Leste scored 22 out of 32 in a global assessment of how well national climate plans protect health, placing it among the top five performers.

Haze Closes Schools: Timor-Leste suspended in-person classes nationwide from October 15 to 17 after Dili’s air quality index reached 165–174, levels considered harmful to health. Officials warned smoke and pollution from regional fires could worsen; Indonesian wildfires have burned hundreds of thousands of hectares and driven respiratory illness across the region. Regional Response: ASEAN foreign ministers plan to discuss tackling transboundary haze next month. Climate Action: Tuvalu’s climate minister says a fossil-fuel phase-out must be part of COP31 talks and welcomed Australia’s landmark ruling on coal and gas emissions as a “clear signal” of responsibility. Timor-Leste took part in the recent Pacific Pre-COP gathering.

Wildfire Haze: Timor-Leste will suspend in-person classes nationwide from October 15 to 17 as smoke from regional fires worsens air quality. Dili recorded AQI readings of 165–174, levels considered harmful to health, and officials warn pollution could rise further. Regional Response: ASEAN foreign ministers plan to discuss tackling transboundary haze next month, as smoke from Indonesia’s severe wildfire season spreads across the region. Sustainable Food Production: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring cooperation in rice, coffee and fisheries, including technology transfer and training to support more sustainable production and strengthen food security.

Regional Haze: ASEAN ministers plan to discuss tackling transboundary haze next month, as smoke pollution remains a shared regional concern. Climate Action: Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta urged COP31 to turn Pacific climate promises into action, with faster access to climate finance and stronger adaptation support for vulnerable countries. Forest Protection: New UN carbon-market rules require cookstove projects to reserve credits against forest loss from fire, drought or logging. Energy Transition: A regional report places Timor-Leste among ASEAN’s “foundational” countries for renewable-energy integration, highlighting the need to strengthen rules and systems for battery storage. Food and Livelihoods: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring cooperation on rice, coffee and fisheries, including sustainable production, technology transfer and training.

Regional Haze: ASEAN ministers will discuss tackling transboundary haze next month, the Philippines said, as smoke blankets parts of Southeast Asia. Clean Cooking: New UN carbon-market rules require cookstove projects to reserve credits against forest loss from fire, drought or logging. Climate Finance: Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta urged COP31 to turn climate promises into accessible funding, especially for vulnerable island states and adaptation. Energy Transition: An ASEAN-IEA report says battery-storage growth is held back mainly by regulation; it places Timor-Leste among countries with the most foundational frameworks. Food and Fisheries: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring sustainable cooperation in rice, coffee and fisheries, including technology transfer and training to strengthen local production and food security.

Carbon Markets: UN-approved rules require cleaner-cookstove projects to set aside carbon credits against the risk that saved trees are later lost to fire, drought or logging, tightening safeguards for a widely criticised credit type. Energy Transition: An ASEAN Centre for Energy and IEA report says battery-storage adoption is held back mainly by regulation and market rules; Timor-Leste is among the region’s “foundational” markets, highlighting the need to build enabling frameworks. Climate Finance: President José Ramos-Horta has urged COP31 to turn climate pledges into accessible funding for vulnerable Pacific states, with more support for adaptation and least-developed countries. Sustainable Food and Fisheries: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring cooperation in rice, coffee and fisheries, including technology transfer and training to strengthen sustainable production and food security.

Climate Finance: Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta urged COP31 to turn climate pledges into accessible funding for vulnerable Pacific nations, including more support for adaptation and least-developed countries. Clean Energy: An ASEAN Centre for Energy and IEA report says battery-storage adoption is held back mainly by regulations and market rules. Timor-Leste is among the region’s “foundational” countries for renewable-energy integration. Climate Commitments: Timor-Leste and the Philippines are the only ASEAN members without a national net-zero pledge, according to advocates at a Philippine climate conference. Sustainable Food Systems: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring cooperation on rice, coffee and fisheries, including technology transfer and more sustainable production. Wildlife: Hong Kong is installing nest boxes for yellow-crested cockatoos, a threatened species native to forests in Timor-Leste and eastern Indonesia.

Sustainable Farming and Fisheries: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring cooperation on rice, coffee and fisheries, including technology transfer, training and sustainable production to strengthen local output and food security. Climate Finance: President José Ramos-Horta urged COP31 leaders to turn climate pledges into accessible funding, warning that Pacific nations face rising risks despite contributing little to global emissions. Emissions Targets: Timor-Leste remains one of only two ASEAN countries without a national net-zero pledge, according to advocates at a regional conference. Sea-Level Rise: A UN declaration affirmed that rising seas do not erase countries’ legal rights or statehood, a key issue for vulnerable island nations. Wildlife: Hong Kong’s endangered yellow-crested cockatoos—whose native range includes Timor-Leste—are being supported with artificial nest boxes and monitored by researchers.

Climate Finance: Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta urged COP31 to turn climate promises into accessible funding for vulnerable Pacific communities, including faster adaptation finance for least-developed countries. Sustainable Fisheries: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing, alongside rice and coffee production, with technology transfer and training aimed at boosting sustainable production and food security. Net-Zero Policy: Timor-Leste remains one of only two ASEAN countries without a national net-zero pledge, according to advocates who warn that delay could limit access to future green investment. Timor and Arafura Seas: Indigenous and coastal advocates are calling for meaningful consultation and consent on offshore oil and gas development, citing risks to marine life, communities and cultural ties to the sea.

Food and Fisheries: Timor-Leste and Vietnam are exploring cooperation in rice, coffee and fisheries, including technology transfer, training and sustainable production, as Dili seeks to strengthen domestic food security. Climate Finance: President José Ramos-Horta urged COP31 leaders to turn climate promises into accessible funding for vulnerable countries, with more support for adaptation and least-developed nations. Emissions Policy: Timor-Leste remains one of only two ASEAN countries without a national net-zero pledge, according to advocates cited at a Philippine climate conference.

COP31 and Climate Finance: President José Ramos-Horta urged leaders to turn climate promises into accessible funding for vulnerable countries, calling for more support for adaptation and least-developed nations. Climate Commitments: Climate advocates say Timor-Leste remains one of only two ASEAN countries without a net-zero pledge, leaving a gap as the region pursues decarbonisation. Arafura and Timor Seas: Indigenous advocate Antonia Burke is pressing for meaningful consultation and consent on offshore oil and gas projects that affect marine life and coastal communities across the shared seas. Local Resilience: Caritas Timor-Leste is strengthening community-led work on water security, sustainable agriculture and disaster preparedness as rural communities face floods, droughts and other climate pressures.

Net-Zero Gap: Timor-Leste remains one of only two ASEAN countries without a national net-zero pledge, according to advocates at a regional conference. They warn that delay could cost the country access to green investment and jobs. Climate Finance: President José Ramos-Horta urged COP31 to turn promises into practical support for vulnerable countries, including faster-to-access finance for adaptation and least-developed nations. Pacific leaders at Pre-COP31 echoed his concerns, saying current funding is too slow and inadequate. Sea-Level Risk: A new UN declaration affirms that rising seas do not erase states’ legal rights or existence, a significant principle for island nations facing climate threats. Local Resilience: Caritas Timor-Leste is coordinating church-led programs on water security, sustainable farming and disaster preparedness to help communities cope with climate change, floods and droughts.