Singapore is bracing for hazy conditions in the second half of 2026 due to the return of El Nino and increased deforestation spurred by biofuel demand.
Hazy conditions are expected in Singapore in March 2025 due to the return of El Nino and increased deforestation spurred by biofuel demand. The warming El Nino climate phenomenon is expected to create a longer and stronger dry season at a time when fire readiness could be compromised by economic uncertainty and budget pressures.
This is the second time since 2019 that the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) has put out a red alert, the first being in 2023 when Singapore experienced haze over a weekend in October. El Nino refers to the warming of the sea surface over the eastern Pacific, leading to hotter and drier weather over the region. Scientists predict that this cycle could be a super El Nino, putting 2026 and 2027 on track for exceptionally sizzling years.
At the same time, another climate phenomenon called the positive Indian Ocean Dipole is expected to develop in July or August. An El Nino and a potential positive Indian Ocean Dipole could prolong and intensify Singapore's dry season in the second half of the year and extend it into October. Past severe haze events such as the crises of 2015 and 1997 also coincided with a super El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole.
In 2015, Singapore's skyline disappeared into a thick cloud of grey for about two months and schools were shut down as air quality hit hazardous levels. Even before El Nino entered the equation in 2026, forest fires and hotspots had persisted in parts of Indonesia and Johor early this year. Singapore faced several weeks of hazy conditions during that period due to wildfires in Johor, including a peatland fire covering 200 hectares across Kota Tinggi and Pengerang.
The region's dry season traditionally falls between June and September, during the south-west monsoon. Hotter and drier conditions cause vegetation, peatland and plantations to be more flammable, and fires that start from land-clearing or burning waste can spread faster. While weather conditions can exacerbate fire and haze, the root causes boil down to how agricultural land is managed, fire preparedness and the political commitment to prevent transboundary haze.
The current energy crisis and higher costs of agricultural components like fertiliser may spur unsustainable land-clearing practices among some producers. The push for biofuel in the region is rising, with Indonesia having a mandate to have vehicles refuelled with a blend of 50 per cent biodiesel from palm oil from July 1. Growers will need to meet demands for both food and fuel, increasing the risk that some might resort to expanding plantations using unsustainable methods and slash-and-burn.
Nearly a fifth of the deforestation in 2025 was due to the clearing of land for food and bioenergy crops. Politically, 2026 will be the first high-risk dry season faced by the Prabowo administration in Indonesia. Former president Joko Widodo viewed haze as an embarrassment for the country's international relations and chaired national coordination meetings on the issue.
In 2025, President Prabowo Subianto launched a new inter-agency desk to strengthen responses to fires, and this entity was reactivated in mid-June 2026, ahead of the upcoming dry season. President Prabowo has been pushing for greater oversight of the country's land-use sectors, investigating alleged environmental violations by companies and centralising control of commodity exports. While this has made some investors wary, tighter governance could have positive outcomes for haze prevention
Please follow us on Google to support usEl Nino Haze Biofuel Deforestation Singapore
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Singapore to Install Tap‑Anywhere Bus Fare Readers by 2027 as SGD Hits Six‑Month High vs RinggitThe Land Transport Authority will fit all public buses with new high‑resolution, tap‑anywhere fare readers by the end of 2027, aiming for faster, more user‑friendly payments. Meanwhile, the Singapore dollar strengthens against the Malaysian ringgit, reaching a six‑month peak, highlighting divergent monetary trends in the region.
Read more »
Anthony Chen's We Are All Strangers to open in Singapore on Aug 20Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen's latest film We Are All Strangers will make its Singapore debut on Aug 20, while its official trailer was released on Monday (Jun 22). The film follows 21-year-old Junyang and his widowed father as they navigate work, family obligations and unexpected changes after Junyang's girlfriend becomes pregnant and his father begins a new relationship.
Read more »
Singapore's Defence Minister Warns of Eroding Deterrence and Rising Global InstabilityIn a major speech, Singapore's Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing cautions that weakening strategic deterrence and the weaponisation of new technologies are emboldening adventurism, eroding the rules-based order, and making diplomacy a less frequent tool for conflict resolution.
Read more »
Two Singapore Teens Charged for Roadblock Evasion, One Case Leaves Officers Severely InjuredA 16-year-old faces charges after allegedly crashing an unregistered vehicle into officers at a roadblock, causing a brain injury and other serious harm. A second teen, 15, is charged for fleeing on an unregistered PMD. Police warn against roadblock evasion.
Read more »