Singapore air pollution worst in world as haze blankets region

Singapore's air quality has deteriorated to become the worst in the world, with haze from Indonesian wildfires blanketing the region and impacting daily life just days before the city-state's annual Formula One weekend. As of Wednesday afternoon, air quality levels in Singapore were in the "very unhealthy" range, according to data from IQAir. Kuala Lumpur, previously the most polluted city, ranked second globally.

In response to the severe haze, schools in the Malaysian state of Johor, located about 140 kilometers northwest of Singapore, were closed. Respiratory complaints have also been reported to be skyrocketing across the region.

Despite the ongoing pollution crisis, which has affected neighboring countries for over a month, existing legal frameworks offer limited recourse for addressing transboundary air pollution. Experts note that suggestions to take Indonesia to the International Court of Justice face significant obstacles.