SINGAPORE – The projected hotter and drier conditions later in 2026 could trigger more intense forest fires and haze in South-east Asia fuelled by a potential “Godzilla El Nino cycle”, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on May 7.

“South-east Asia faces a perfect storm caused by a double whammy of geopolitical developments and climate change, which have severe implications for the region’s agri-commodity sector,” said Ms Fu at the annual Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources held at One Farrer Hotel.

She added: “A warmer-than-usual dry season is also expected in the coming months, with some meteorological agencies forecasting a super El Nino, or a ‘Godzilla El Nino’ cycle. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts that this will amplify the impacts of climate change, including potential droughts in South-east Asia.”

She urged ASEAN nations to be more vigilant this year and pursue closer regional cooperation through the legally binding ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, and a high-level ministerial committee that coordinates efforts to monitor and manage land and forest fires.

Ms Fu’s cautionary message comes after Singapore faced several weeks of hazy conditions earlier this year due to hotspots and vegetation fires in Johor. While the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings were within the moderate range, a burning odour reached many parts of the island during that period.

Bloomberg reported in end-March that the 800-plus hotspots across Indonesia and Malaysia were the highest in seven years.

The WMO recently said the sizzling El Nino climate phenomenon could return between May and July. El Nino leads to the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific.

Early signs ind...