WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
El Niño‑Driven Drying Fuels Intensifying Wildfires in Indonesia
WHY IT MATTERS
The escalating fires heighten environmental and public health risks, underscoring the urgent need for effective fire management and climate adaptation strategies.
What happened
Indonesia is experiencing a severe wildfire season as the El Niño weather pattern dries out extensive peatlands, a type of wetland that stores large amounts of carbon.
The unusually dry conditions have already sparked some of the country’s worst fire seasons in recent years, and experts warn that this year could be even more devastating.
The fires threaten local communities, wildlife, and air quality, while releasing significant greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
PRIMARY SOURCES
As El Niño Dries Indonesia, Wildfires Intensify
The New York Times · Max Kim and Muktita Suhartono · Discovery only; publisher copyright and subscription terms apply