AGP Executive Report

Volcanic Crisis (Anak Krakatau): Ash from Mount Anak Krakatau kept eight Indonesian airports shut and disrupted about 2,300 flights, stranding 270,000+ passengers across western Indonesia, with Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta closure extended as AirNav tests keep changing NOTAMs; authorities also warned further eruptions remain possible and said cloud seeding/weather modification is being readied to help clear ash. Wildfire Response (Prabowo): Indonesia’s president ordered a stronger, more anticipatory forest-fire plan—more aircraft and drones for water drops, plus village-based pumps and excavators—after operational delays during this year’s blazes. Haze & Health (Regional spillover): The wildfire smoke continues to worsen air quality across parts of Southeast Asia, with Malaysia reporting emergency-level haze in Sarawak even as some areas begin easing. Climate Signal (El Niño): UN and NOAA-linked reporting says a “very strong” El Niño is moving into a danger zone for extreme weather, raising risks for heat, drought, and floods that can amplify Indonesia’s fire and haze cycles. Waste & Industry: China-led firms are prominent in Indonesia’s waste-to-energy push, as the country tries to lift waste management from today’s low coverage toward 2029 targets.

Volcano Disruption: Mount Anak Krakatau’s renewed eruptions kept eight Indonesian airports shut and kept Soekarno-Hatta closed until 6pm, with ash drifting over Jakarta and nearby provinces. Public Safety & Response: BNPB is preparing weather modification to trigger rain to help clear ash, while authorities warn the probability of further eruptions remains high and schools in affected areas shift to remote learning. Economic Hit: Indonesia’s airline association estimates losses up to Rp19 billion (US$1.1m) per day from cancellations, delays, and added operating costs, with passenger disruption now topping 270,000. Disaster Planning: President Prabowo calls for a comprehensive disaster mitigation master plan, including more helicopters, pumps, and firefighting equipment, and urges prepositioning resources ahead of crises. Carbon Market Integrity: The Forestry Ministry stresses that a credible, high-integrity national carbon market depends on strengthening human resources alongside the latest carbon trading regulations. Regional Haze Context: As Indonesia’s fires continue to affect neighbors, Malaysia lifted a haze emergency in Sarawak’s Serian after readings fell, but health risks remain and monitoring continues. Waste-to-Energy Push: Indonesia taps Chinese expertise to accelerate waste-to-energy projects, citing speed as key to tackling the waste crisis. Local Trade: Bengkulu ships 19.2 tons of coffee directly to Italy, a boost for sustainable supply and long-term market expansion.

Volcanic Crisis (Anak Krakatau): Indonesia expanded Anak Krakatau airport closures to eight, grounding flights and stranding about 170,000 passengers as ash spread over Jakarta and beyond; authorities kept the volcano at Level III and urged people to stay away from danger zones and follow mask guidance. Aviation Disruption: Transport officials coordinated alternative airports and pushed airlines to quickly update passengers and honor ticket rights as cancellations topped 1,500 flights across affected hubs. Transboundary Haze (Kalimantan/Borneo): Toxic smoke from Indonesian wildfires continued to choke parts of Southeast Asia, with Malaysia declaring a haze emergency in Sarawak’s Serian district as air quality hit hazardous levels. Fire Response (Nusantara): Indonesia used water bombing to help cool and suppress wildfires near the future capital Nusantara, aiming to stop further spread and reduce haze impacts. Climate Outlook (El Niño): Reports warn El Niño is intensifying and could drive more extreme heat and weather risks across the region, raising pressure on preparedness and emissions cuts.

Volcanic Ash Disrupts Air Travel: Anak Krakatau’s eruption sent ash over western Indonesia, forcing temporary closures at six airports and grounding hundreds of flights, including 209 at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta and 22,000+ passengers affected; authorities warned operations could change as ash movement shifts. Public Health Response: Indonesia’s Health Ministry activated emergency support (HEOC, nebulizers, oxygen concentrators, eye drops) and urged residents to stay indoors, wear masks/glasses, and seek care for respiratory or eye irritation. Local Guidance & Monitoring: Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung pushed the “5M” protection steps (masking, limiting outdoor activity, wetting ash before cleaning, medical care when symptoms worsen) while the Jakarta Environmental Agency tightened air quality monitoring with BMKG/PVMBG/BPBD coordination. Universities Mobilized: The Higher Education Ministry asked universities to activate standby posts and deploy health, engineering, environmental, and disaster experts to track ash impacts and support communities. Disaster Risk Tools: BNPB prepared weather modification (rain enhancement or water mist) to help wash down ash, and President Prabowo urged strict compliance with danger zones around the volcano. Wildfire Haze Still Looms: Separate reports note Indonesian wildfire smoke worsening haze across parts of the region, including unhealthy air in Singapore.

Wildfire & Haze Response: Indonesia’s police named 113 suspects in forest and land fire cases after 169 reports scorched 4,741.89 hectares, with authorities warning they will act on any corporate involvement. Air Quality & Regional Spillover: Indonesia’s fires are still driving haze across Southeast Asia; Singapore’s PSI eased back to the moderate range after earlier unhealthy readings, while Malaysia moved toward emergency measures as pollution spiked. Weather Modification: The environment ministry said cloud seeding continues in West and Central Kalimantan, dispersing sodium chloride to help wet peatlands and support ground firefighting. Wildlife Rescue: Authorities rescued an orangutan mother and baby from encroaching wildfires in West Kalimantan, with health monitoring ongoing. Volcano Watch: Anak Krakatau entered a more intense eruptive phase, prompting renewed restrictions and light ashfall reports along parts of Banten’s coast. Climate Backdrop: El Niño is developing unusually fast and could intensify drought and fire risk, with global warnings that hunger impacts may rise sharply. Policy Note: Indonesia issued new rules for halal compliance of imported products, with phased enforcement starting October 2026.

Wildfire Rescue in West Kalimantan: Indonesia rescued an orangutan mother and her baby from encroaching forest and land fires in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, moving them to a rescue center after initial checks found no burn injuries. Haze Crisis Across Borders: Indonesia says it’s tackling transboundary haze through ASEAN mechanisms under Alert Level 3, while smoke from Kalimantan and Sumatra continues to disrupt health and daily life across the region. Fire Response Funding & Tactics: The government allocated Rp5.5 billion for West Kalimantan forest-fire mitigation, including aerial and ground operations plus peatland rewetting and law enforcement; officials also stress ground operations as the main defense while weather modification is prepared. Air Pollution Emergency in Malaysia (Linked to Indonesia): Malaysia declared an emergency in Sarawak’s Serian after API levels crossed emergency thresholds, with school closures and cloud-seeding operations underway. Public Health & Drought Pressure: As haze persists, drought is also worsening conditions in Central Java, where dead fish have appeared in a shrinking river, highlighting how climate stress compounds environmental impacts.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Indonesia’s Kalimantan wildfires are still driving toxic smoke across Southeast Asia, keeping Metro Cebu in the “very unhealthy” range and prompting continued class suspensions in parts of the Philippines; authorities also warn haze remains detectable in Palawan and other Visayas/Mindanao areas. Regional Emergency Response: Malaysia escalated action as Sarawak’s Serian Air Pollutant Index hit 521 (hazardous), triggering an emergency declaration, school closures, and cloud-seeding efforts to help clear the air. Firefighting Under Pressure: Indonesia is stepping up Kalimantan fire response as haze worsens, with ground operations, water bombing, and thermal drones used where aerial efforts are disrupted by poor conditions. EV Waste Planning: Indonesia is developing an EV battery waste management ecosystem, with used-battery generation expected to peak around 2040, and policy work aimed at rolling out a full system by next year. Climate Risk Backdrop: A new global displacement report links climate-driven floods, droughts, and cyclones to nearly 30 million internal displacements in 2025, with Indonesia among countries facing escalating environmental shocks.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Malaysia declared an emergency in Sarawak’s Serian district after Indonesia-linked smoke pushed the Air Pollutant Index to 521 (schools closed, cloud-seeding launched). Public Health Alerts: In the Philippines, OCD warned haze from Indonesian fires is still detected across parts of Visayas and Mindanao, with “very unhealthy” AQI readings reported in Cebu and South Cotabato—N95 masks urged. Indonesia Wildfire Impacts: East Java temporarily closed Ijen Crater tourism access after forest and land fires spread near hiking routes. El Niño Pressure: Multiple reports highlight El Niño intensifying risks across Asia, with UN warnings that extreme weather and heat-driven fire danger could worsen. Illegal Mining Watch (Aceh): Despite crackdown pledges, communities in Aceh say illegal gold mining continues inside forest areas, raising concerns for orangutan habitat and peatland ecosystems.

Transboundary Haze & Health Alerts: Metro Cebu’s air turned “acutely unhealthy” as haze from Indonesian wildfires cut visibility to near-zero, triggering class suspensions and heightened monitoring, while Iloilo also logged “unhealthy for sensitive groups” PM2.5 levels. School Disruption in the Philippines: Malacañang ordered alternative learning modes for Metro Manila and 15 Luzon areas on Sept. 4, citing both habagat rains and poor air quality linked to Kalimantan/Sumatra fires. El Niño Escalation: The UN weather agency warned El Niño is “very strong,” likely persisting until February and raising risks of extreme heat, drought, floods, and more severe weather into 2027. Wildfire Smoke Drivers: Reports tied the haze to massive forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, with cross-equatorial winds carrying smoke toward the Philippines. Conservation Under Pressure: A report said an orangutan died after exposure to haze fires, underscoring how wildlife is hit alongside people. Forest Protection Finance: The UK announced £400m investment in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, aiming to support countries protecting tropical forests—key for biodiversity and climate stability.

Transboundary Haze & Health Alerts: Metro Cebu’s air quality hit record-danger levels as EMB-7 logged PM2.5 AQI around 252 (“acutely unhealthy”), with hospitals told to brace for more respiratory cases and local leaders suspending face-to-face classes and urging people to limit outdoor exposure. Wildfire Smoke from Indonesia: Bukidnon and other parts of the Philippines reported haze linked to Kalimantan and peatland fires, driven by cross-equatorial winds—showing how Indonesia’s fire season keeps spilling across borders. El Niño Escalation: The UN weather agency warned El Niño is “firmly established” and set to intensify into a “very strong” event, with near-certain persistence through February—raising risks of extreme heat, drought, floods, and compounding disaster impacts into 2027. Wildlife Fallout: An orangutan (Sampurna) rescued from a palm oil area in West Kalimantan died after suspected prolonged smoke exposure, underscoring how fires threaten biodiversity beyond habitat loss. Regional Response Tools: Malaysia launched cloud-seeding to ease hazardous haze over Sarawak, targeting dams and catchment areas—while ASEAN haze talks face tough political constraints. Policy & Trade Context: Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to strengthen border trade at Entikong–Tebedu, as Indonesia also pushes EV supply-chain growth and broader investment ties.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Cebu City suspended in-person classes for two days as Metro Cebu’s AQI hit “acutely unhealthy” (203), with DENR-EMB linking the smoke to Kalimantan and Sumatra fires; local health officials reported no haze-related hospital admissions yet, but warned of possible asthma spikes. Worsening Air Across the Visayas & Mindanao: DENR-EMB recorded “acutely unhealthy” air in multiple areas including Cagayan de Oro and Talisay City, while Koronadal saw PM2.5 swing from “emergency” (312.8) to “very unhealthy” again in the morning, prompting mask and outdoor-exposure advisories. Northern Mindanao Monitoring: Iligan and nearby cities logged sharp PM2.5 increases, with Iligan reaching “acutely unhealthy” AQI levels above 200 as smoke drifted in. Public Health Guidance: Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas urged N95 masks and limited outdoor activity, warning haze can trigger coughing, irritation, and worsen asthma and heart conditions. Wildfire Pressure in Indonesia: Indonesia’s El Niño-linked dry conditions are intensifying fire risk, with authorities deploying cloud seeding and firefighting aircraft to protect peatland hotspots.

Transboundary Haze Health Crisis (Philippines): Indonesia’s wildfire smoke is still driving dangerous air in the Philippines, with Cebu and nearby areas hitting “acutely unhealthy” AQI levels and local health offices urging masks, indoor time, and reduced outdoor activity—while some LGUs move to class suspensions and flexible learning. Wildfire Accountability (Indonesia): In Jambi, the forestry ministry has launched investigations into three companies over alleged fire-linked violations, warning against land clearing by burning and signaling possible permit revocations and criminal sanctions. El Niño & Disaster Risk (Global): A UNEP warning says global temperatures are likely to exceed 1.5°C soon, raising disaster and health risks—an urgent backdrop for Indonesia’s fire season. Green Jobs Push (Indonesia): Bappenas and ministers are calling for faster green job creation tied to renewable energy and climate resilience, arguing jobs must shift now or climate impacts will worsen. Food Security Tech (Indonesia-Australia): Indonesia plans 40,000 mini recirculating aquaculture systems with Australia to boost fish-farming productivity in villages, starting with tilapia and catfish. Clean Mobility (Bali): Bali signed on for a battery-powered electric tram linking the airport to Canggu to cut congestion and support tourism.

Transboundary Haze Crisis: Indonesia’s Kalimantan fires are pushing smoke into the Philippines, with DENR-EMB reporting Metro Manila areas stuck at “acutely unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” AQI levels and health officials urging residents to stay indoors and wear N95 masks; advisories also warn haze could linger until Sept. 3 as the southwest monsoon (“habagat”) carries particulates. Regional Air Quality Watch: Similar haze impacts are reported across Luzon and the Visayas, including Iloilo and Bohol, where visibility drops and PM2.5 rises sharply, prompting local governments to tighten outdoor activity guidance. El Niño Fire “Battleground” in September: Indonesia’s forestry minister warns September is the peak of El Niño and a high-risk period for forest and land fires, even as hotspot trends decline, with the government relying on weather modification, water bombing, ground firefighting, enforcement, and public awareness. Wildfire Response Pressure: BNPB says hazardous air quality is hitting South and West Kalimantan, with schools shifting to distance learning and authorities continuing ground and aerial suppression amid ongoing hotspots. Biodiversity at Stake: West Kalimantan is spotlighted for orangutan protection as wildfire risk threatens habitat, while reports also note wildlife displacement and rescue efforts during the smoke crisis.

Transboundary Haze & Health: Indonesia-linked smoke from Kalimantan fires is blanketing parts of the Philippines, with Metro Manila stations hitting “acutely unhealthy” AQI levels (up to ~296) and officials urging masks and staying indoors; haze may linger until Sept 3 as winds keep transporting particles. Wildfire Preparedness (El Niño peak): Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry says September is a “month of struggle” as El Niño intensifies, with weather modification and firefighting ramped up across priority provinces. Local Fire Response: West Java’s BPBD reports Sumedang has the most forest-fire incidents (20 as of Aug 27), while BNPB says air quality in Pekanbaru improved despite remaining hotspots. Protected Areas Closed: Kerinci Seblat temporarily closes Mount Kerinci trails from Sept 1, and Indonesia also limits hiking in nine national parks to cut wildfire risk. Peatland Fire Prevention Tech: BRIN is developing a groundwater monitoring system for peatlands to flag rising fire risk and track carbon impacts. Wildlife Enforcement: IUCN honored Bali’s quarantine office for intercepting trafficked birds at ports and air routes. Community Pressure: Walhi East Kalimantan urges permit audits and possible revocations for companies tied to thousands of hotspots.

Forest Fires & Haze Response: Indonesia is fighting a renewed surge in forest and land fires, with West Kalimantan hotspots nearly doubling to 7,377 and visibility dropping below 1 km; health officials report smoke-linked respiratory illness impacts, while authorities say high-confidence hotspots have declined but peat fires can smolder and reignite. Regional Air Quality Fallout: Haze is disrupting daily life beyond Indonesia—Sarawak, Malaysia is preparing for possible emergency measures as API readings hit hazardous levels, and flights were rescheduled at West Kalimantan’s Supadio Airport due to thick smoke. Fire Prevention on the Ground: The Forestry Ministry says September is a “decisive” period, expanding weather modification, aerial water-bombing, and additional personnel as rainfall delays threaten conditions. Wildlife Rescue: Three endangered false gharial hatchlings were rescued from West Kalimantan, highlighting how fire and habitat pressure can quickly turn into trafficking risk. Climate Signal: New coral research links global warming to stronger El Niño extremes, warning of bigger ecological and human losses. Protected Areas & Access: Indonesia temporarily closed hiking trails in nine national parks to reduce wildfire risk and prevent hikers getting trapped. Energy Transition: Indonesia launched a 100 GWp solar program aimed at energy independence and job creation, while still battling near-term fire and haze crises.

Transboundary Haze & Air Quality: Sarawak warned it could trigger a state emergency if its Air Pollutant Index hits 500, with cross-border haze coordination routed through ASEAN channels and federal disaster procedures. Wildfire Response on the Ground: Indonesia says hotspots are down in several provinces, but peat fires can still smoulder and restart—so repeated cooling and wetting remains crucial. Enforcement Against Fire-Linked Firms: The Environment Ministry is inspecting 19 companies tied to wildfire-prone concessions, with strict liability applying even if fires start accidentally. Tourism Safety Measures: Indonesia temporarily closed hiking routes in nine national parks to protect visitors and concentrate firefighting resources, after past incidents left hikers stranded. Regional Weather Tools: BMKG cloud-seeding operations in Jambi are set to continue into early September, while Sarawak plans cloud seeding Sept 3–5 if conditions allow. Climate Backdrop: New coral records from the Galápagos suggest El Niño events are now more extreme than in the past 1,000 years, raising alarm for Indonesia’s already risky dry season. Wildlife Rescue: An orangutan in West Kalimantan was found weakened by smoke exposure and is being treated after being pushed toward plantations by nearby fires. Energy & Water Pressure from AI: A new analysis warns AI data centres could triple direct cooling-water use by 2030 without efficiency gains, adding another strain to water and energy planning.