Indonesia’s wildfires put millions at risk as climate extremes intensify a growing human rights crisis

Indonesia is experiencing its most intense wildfire season in 11 years, with fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan exposing millions of people to hazardous smoke and disrupting communities across Indonesia and neighbouring countries.

More than 12.5 million people across 7 provinces have been exposed to wildfire haze, while respiratory illnesses linked to the fires are increasing. The haze has also spread across borders, severely affecting air quality in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

The consequences of a climate-related crisis do not end when the smoke clears. Fires and drought damage people’s health and ability to earn an income. These financial pressures leave people more exposed to exploitation.

People who lose their income may be forced to move to find work. This leaves them with fewer safe employment options and increases their exposure to trafficking and forced labour.

Indonesia’s fires are being fuelled by human activity and exceptionally dry conditions.

Land clearing and the use of fire to clear vegetation are contributing to outbreaks, while human-driven climate change is increasing the heat and drought, allowing fires to spread and become harder to control.

A strong El Niño is also contributing to prolonged drought across the country. Around 90% of Indonesia received little to no rainfall in early August, according to data from Indonesia’s meteorological agency.

These conditions have allowed fires to spread through peatlands across Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua.

The fires increase modern slavery risks by disrupting people’s livelihoods and access to safe work. The impacts include:

These risks are not experienced equally. People already facing economic insecurity have fewer resources to recover when climate disasters disrupt their livelihoods.

Emergency measures are crucial while fires continue to burn. Humanitarian responses must also address the longer-term risks, which leave people exposed to exploitation when climate disasters disrupt lives.

Climate resilience needs to include protections for people whose livelihoods are threatened by environmental change.

This means protecting forests and peatlands, safeguarding Indigenous Peoples’ lands and livelihoods, and ensuring affected communities have access to health and social protection during and after disasters.

Modern slavery prevention must be part of this response. Climate shocks risk creating new opportunities for exploitation when people face lost income, displacement, or unsafe work.

Governments must recognise modern slavery as part of the climate crisis and build protections against exploitation into climate action.