Indonesia wildfires cause spike in emissions

Indonesia is continuing to battle its worst wildfires in more than a decade, with authorities delivering oxygen tanks to residents in West Kalimantan province.

CO2 emissions - from the fires - amounted to 19.7 million metric tonnes in the first week of this month.

That makes up more than a third of total emissions globally, according to the European Union's Copernicus climate monitoring service.

With the wildfire season barely underway in Indonesia and El Niño driving up temperatures and spurring droughts, there could be worse to come.

A drone view shows wildfires burning in an area in Sungai Putri, West Kalimantan,  Indonesia, August 29, 2026. (Reuters: Willy Kurniawan)