Forum: Use lessons learnt from Covid-19 to manage haze
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With the haze, exercising and socialising are reduced, but unlike the circuit breaker imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is almost business as usual for many, including outdoor workers.
Unlike during the pandemic, when the increasing seriousness and outcomes could not have been known earlier, we can predict whether the haze will get worse. For instance, the current super El Nino made the news earlier in the year (What is a ‘Godzilla’ El Nino, and how could it affect Singapore?, May 14).
The World Meteorological Organisation predicts this El Nino to be different _ rather than having a short, explosive standard peak, it will be drawn out over an extended period. The cumulative consequences are therefore serious and unpredictable.
It will be useful if we draw on the lessons learnt from the successful management of Covid-19, as well as adopt a society and whole-of-government approach with better communication and more coordination, to deal with the haze.
Tan Li Fong