El Niño endangers Indonesia's palm oil industry and PNG food security

The World Meteorological Organization and Indonesia's BMKG have issued alerts that an El Niño event is developing, bringing prolonged drought to Sumatra and Kalimantan. Experts warn that the climate pattern could trigger widespread forest and peat fires, exposing palm‑oil companies and industrial‑forest holders to massive environmental‑damage fines that could reach trillions of rupiah.

In Papua New Guinea, the National Disaster Centre has activated emergency response measures after the national weather service declared an El Niño. Frost and drought have already damaged food gardens and cash crops in the Highlands, prompting coordination with UN agencies and calls for emergency funding to protect food and water security.