SINGAPORE - There is a need for greater transparency and consumer pressure on errant companies to take the fight against haze forward, wrote Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan on Facebook on Wednesday evening.

He said this was one of the points agreed upon during an earlier meeting with Dr Marco Lambertini, director general of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) International. They also agreed on the urgent need for the private sector, non-governmental organisations and governments to take concerted action against the haze.

Dr Balakrishnan said these moves will supplement the Transboundary Haze Pollution law. This was passed in August to punish polluters who cause the haze.

The pair also discussed the importance of formulating appropriate indices to measure the sustainability of cities - given that more than 50 per cent of humanity now live in cities.

"A dense, well-planned efficient city is the most sustainable way of life for the future," said Dr Balakrishnan.