The briefing highlights that Indonesia’s fire emissions in 2026 are projected to match record levels seen earlier this century, driven largely by El Niño conditions. El Niño, a climate phenomenon characterized by warmer Pacific Ocean temperatures, typically leads to drier weather in Indonesia, increasing the risk of widespread forest and peatland fires. These fires release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants, contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions and severe air quality issues in the region. The report underscores concerns that ongoing drought conditions linked to El Niño are creating a high-risk environment for large-scale fires, potentially mirroring or surpassing the devastating haze crises experienced in past years such as 2015 and 2019. This situation poses serious environmental, health, and economic challenges both locally and globally. The briefing calls for heightened vigilance, improved fire management strategies, and international cooperation to mitigate the impact of these emissions and prevent a repeat of the destructive fire seasons of the past.

Published on: 2026-09-14 at 00:15:01