Indonesia Records World’s Highest Wildfire Emissions Amid Severe Dry Conditions

Indonesia is experiencing a sharp increase in wildfire emissions as fires spread across dry forest and peatland areas on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, according to climate monitoring data.

Data from Fire Emissions Watch, developed by the European Union’s Copernicus climate monitoring service, showed that Indonesian wildfires released around 19.7 million metric tons of emissions between September 1 and 7.

The figure placed Indonesia at the top of the global list during the week, surpassing Russia and accounting for more than one-third of worldwide wildfire emissions recorded during the period.

Indonesia regularly experiences seasonal fires, but unusually hot and dry weather linked to El Niño conditions has increased the risk and intensity of wildfires this year.

Mark Parrington, a senior scientist with the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, said the dry conditions are making fires more intense once they start.

Copernicus data showed that Indonesia’s fire emission intensity exceeded 1,500 kilograms per square kilometer during the first week of September. The highest levels were recorded in Kalimantan, on Indonesia’s part of Borneo, as well as eastern areas of Sumatra.

The emissions recorded during the period were approximately 273% above the seasonal average. However, they remained below the level recorded during the same period in 2015, when Indonesia faced another severe wildfire season associated with strong El Niño conditions.

The city of Pontianak in West Kalimantan has been among the areas affected by poor air quality. According to Swiss air-quality monitoring company IQAir, the city’s air quality index reached 394 on Wednesday, a level classified as hazardous.

Authorities and monitoring agencies continue to track the fires and their impact on air quality as Indonesia faces ongoing dry and hot conditions.