At the Nexus of Climate Change and Sustainable Development: A Review of High Particulate Events in Southeast Asia’s Agrarian Heartland

Southeast Asia’s agrarian landscapes are increasingly experiencing intense, seasonal episodes of particulate matter pollution, driven largely by agricultural biomass burning. This review situates these high particulate events (HPEs) at the critical intersection of climate change and sustainable development, arguing that they form a feedback loop that threatens regional progress. We synthesize evidence demonstrating that climate change intensifies HPEs by promoting more frequent fire-favorable conditions, while the emissions from these fires, with potent short-lived climate pollutants being a key contributor, worsen regional climate impacts. This cycle directly undermines key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), jeopardizing public health (SDG 3), amplifying regional warming (SDG 13), and straining economic productivity (SDG 8) and international relations (SDG 17). Our analysis concludes that mitigating this threat demands a fundamental shift beyond reactive firefighting. We advocate for integrated strategies that promote sustainable land management, provide viable economic alternatives for rural communities, and foster robust regional cooperation. Disrupting this feedback cycle is therefore essential to safeguarding public health in Southeast Asia and ensuring global climate security.