Indonesia warned of extended drought and island submersion as climate risks rise

Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said the probability of a “Godzilla El Niño” this year is low, but warned that the dry season could be unusually long, with an 81 % chance of below‑average rainfall and peak drought conditions expected in August across parts of West Java such as Bekasi, Cirebon, Kuningan and Bandung.

At the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum, Deputy Environment Minister Diaz Hendropriyono highlighted that climate‑induced sea‑level rise threatens up to 134 Indonesian islands with submersion, citing estimates of about 1,500 small islands at risk by 2050 and 115 medium islands by 2100. He urged stronger community‑based adaptation, referencing the ProKlim program that now covers over 12,600 villages, and mangrove restoration projects that boost coastal resilience and fisheries. Hendropriyono called for a global climate‑finance target of US$300 billion per year by 2035 to support vulnerable island communities.