At Biochar Life, we’ve always believed that solving global challenges like climate change requires...
The recent ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment and the 20th Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution took place in Langkawi, Malaysia, earlier this month. Under Malaysia’s 2025 Chairmanship, the theme was “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” and the meetings placed strong emphasis on climate action, social equity and tackling the long-standing challenge of transboundary smoke and haze.
For companies and buyers in Southeast Asia, the outcomes of this summit are not abstract. They signal a clear direction of travel: cleaner air, stronger regional cooperation, and inclusive climate solutions. It is also a reminder that local approaches such as biochar have a role to play in meeting these commitments.
A Regional Commitment
One of the most significant outcomes was ASEAN’s renewed pledge to achieve a haze-free region by 2030. This goal is backed by the ASEAN Roadmap on a Haze-Free Region 2023–2030, which focuses on better land management, stricter enforcement of open burning laws, and stronger monitoring systems. Plans are also underway to establish new regional centres, such as the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control in Indonesia, to help countries respond faster and more effectively to haze incidents.
The emphasis on inclusivity is important. ASEAN leaders recognised that smallholder farmers, local communities and small enterprises are often on the frontline of both the problem and the solution. Supporting them is essential to ensuring sustainable change.
Why Haze Still Matters
Transboundary haze is not only an environmental issue; it has public health, economic and social dimensions. Episodes of smoke pollution affect millions of people across the region, with respiratory illnesses, disrupted tourism and economic costs that ripple far beyond the immediate source.
The drivers are familiar: crop residues and land cleared through burning. Despite efforts to curb the practice, it remains widespread, particularly in rural areas where alternatives are limited. Tackling haze requires policies at the top but also practical, scalable alternatives on the ground.
The Case for Biochar
This is where biochar can make a difference. Instead of burning agricultural residues, farmers and local processors can convert them into biochar. This simple change addresses multiple challenges at once. It prevents smoke and haze, captures and stores carbon, and creates a biochar fertilizer product that can improve soil health and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.
In Indonesia, for example, corn mills working with partners such as Corus International are already beginning to divert cob waste away from open burning. That material is processed into biochar fertilizer and handed back to farmers as a resource for their fields. What was once a waste problem is now an asset, creating healthier soils and reducing fertilizer costs.
For buyers, this approach offers tangible benefits. Supporting biochar projects contributes directly to haze reduction while also generating high-quality carbon removal credits. It is a way to meet climate targets, reduce risk from supply chain disruptions, and support the communities most affected by smoke pollution.
What Buyers Should Take Away
For businesses operating in Southeast Asia, the message from the ASEAN summit is clear: climate and haze issues are moving higher up the regional agenda, and solutions that combine environmental, social and economic benefits will be prioritized. Biochar fits well into this framework.
Buyers can start by looking for opportunities to integrate biochar into their sustainability strategies. That might mean partnering with producers to purchase carbon removal credits, exploring ways to use biomass residues within their own supply chains, or supporting programs that bring farmers into the carbon removal economy.
The key is to think about biochar not only as a carbon credit but as a system-level solution. It reduces smoke pollution, improves soil productivity, and builds resilience in rural communities, all while delivering certified climate benefits.
Looking Ahead
Biochar Life currently ranks 11th on the CDR.fyi leaderboard, with over 22,000 credits sold and more than 21,000 delivered. We currently have projects operating in two ASEAN countries: Thailand and Indonesia. Our track record demonstrates that biochar can deliver at scale and with credibility. As ASEAN members push forward with their commitments, there is a clear opening for more buyers to engage with this type of solution.
The recent summit in Malaysia underscored the urgency of addressing haze, climate change and inclusivity together. Biochar is not the only answer, but it is one of the practical tools available today that can help the region move toward cleaner skies, healthier communities and more sustainable growth.
Progress on haze and climate will depend on collaboration across sectors. By engaging with biochar projects, buyers can be part of a regional effort that delivers both environmental and community benefits.
Interested in how biochar can support cleaner air and carbon removal in Southeast Asia? Let’s explore partnership opportunities.
