Malaysia's Haze Crisis: Rainmaking and School Closures in Preparation

Malaysia is preparing to seed clouds in an attempt to make rain and considering closing schools as air quality worsens due to forest fires in neighboring Indonesia. The country experiences haze every dry season from fires used to clear land for palm oil and pulp and paper plantations. The Department of Environment reported unhealthy air pollution index readings in 11 areas, particularly in the western part of Peninsular Malaysia. Efforts to clear the air with rain and other measures will be implemented when API readings exceed 150 for more than 24 hours. Environmental group Greenpeace called for legislation to hold plantation companies accountable for causing air pollution.