Godzilla El Nino is Watching, Southeast Asia is Asked to Prepare for Smoke Fog

JAKARTA - Southeast Asia is asked to prepare for the risk of more severe smog by the end of 2026. The trigger is not only hot and dry weather, but also the potential "Godzilla El Nino" which can increase the risk of forest and land fires.

As reported by The Straits Times, Thursday, May 7, Singapore's Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu delivered the warning at the Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources in Singapore, May 7.

"Southeast Asia is facing a perfect storm due to the double blow of geopolitical developments and climate change, which has a serious impact on the region's agricultural commodity sector," said Fu.

He said a drier season that is hotter than usual is expected in the coming months. A number of meteorological agencies even predict a super El Nino or "Godzilla El Nino". According to the World Meteorological Organization, this condition can increase the impact of climate change, including drought in Southeast Asia.

Fu urged ASEAN countries to be more vigilant in 2026. Regional cooperation is considered necessary to be strengthened through the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and a ministerial-level committee that monitors land and forest fires.

The Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre estimates that hot spot activity will increase when the dry season begins around June in southern ASEAN, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The risk of cross-border haze can also increase in June and July, especially in areas that have experienced long droughts. The situation could worsen if El Nino develops.

Previously, Singapore experienced smog for several weeks in early 2026 due to hotspots and vegetation fires in Johor. Bloomberg reported more than 800 hotspots in Indonesia and Malaysia at the end of March, the highest in seven years.

The dialogue also highlighted ASEAN agricultural commodities that were hit by rising energy costs, agricultural input prices, and shipping costs due to the Middle East conflict. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Arif Havas Oegroseno was also present at the forum.

Fu said the region could reduce its dependence on fossil fuels by processing palm waste and wastewater into organic fertilizer and biogas.

However, he also warned of another risk: green standards could become a new trade barrier. The European Union will impose anti-deforestation rules by the end of 2026. Agricultural products entering the EU market must be proven not to damage forests or degrade land quality.

"Sustainable production is not only about compliance with regulations, but also about access to markets and capital for investment and innovation," Fu was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.

This year's haze risk is not standing alone. It is related to dry weather, land fires, energy prices, food costs, and trade pressures on ASEAN agricultural products.