Climate Pressure on Indonesia: Heat, Disease, and Disaster

Indonesia produces only 1.8% of the world’s CO2 emissions, but it is extremely vulnerable to climate impacts, showing climate injustice in real time. Action is needed to address these serious challenges, including:

• Extreme Heat & Weather: In October 2024, Indonesia recorded a high of 38.4°C. From 2023-2024, the country faced 6,827 climate-related disasters, affecting over 13 million people.
• Health Risks: Changes in temperature and rainfall caused a 96% rise in pneumonia and a 19% increase in diarrhoea cases in Maluku.
• Economic Losses: Climate change is hurting agriculture, especially cocoa farming. This could cost Indonesia 2.5%-7% of its total GDP.

Extreme Weather Hits Indonesia

In March 2025, torrential rain caused floods up to 3 meters deep in Jakarta, destroying thousands of homes and displacing local residents. In Bekasi, a hospital was flooded, and patients had to be evacuated as the wards were underwater and the power went out. Rescue teams used boats to reach people who were trapped. These floods are considered among Indonesia’s worst since 2020, which saw 60 fatalities following record rainfall.

In January 2025, floods in Pekalongan city triggered a landslide that destroyed 25 houses, a dam, and three bridges. At least 25 people died, and many others were forced into shelters.

Read more about heat stress here.

Read more about extreme weather here.

Climate Change Is Making Indonesians Sick

Climate change is worsening health risks in Indonesia, increasing deaths from extreme weather, malnutrition and diseases like cholera. It also threatens water, food, and healthcare systems. Unsafe water from changing rain and temperatures has led to a 96% rise in pneumonia and a 19% increase in diarrhoea cases in Maluku.

Air pollution in Indonesia causes respiratory diseases and contributes to 45% of child deaths from infections. However, if action is taken, Indonesia could save 89,000 lives each year by 2030.

Read more about health risks here.

Indonesia’s Agricultural and Cocoa Industry Hit Hard by Climate Change

Unpredictable weather and rising temperatures are harming Indonesia’s agriculture, particularly cocoa farming. These changes are reducing crop yields, causing pest infestations, and driving up prices. In 2024, cocoa prices nearly tripled to US $12,000 per ton. These climate change driven impacts could cost Indonesia’s economy up to 7% of its GDP.

The climate crisis is hurting farmers, raising prices, and risking food security and exports. It’s also increasing deforestation and damaging the economy. Urgent action is needed for sustainable farming and climate policies.

Learn more about socio-economic risks here.

From the Arctic to Indonesia: Melting Ice and Its Global Impact

As the Arctic warms four times faster than the rest of the world, Indonesia faces direct consequences. Record high temperatures are causing Indonesia’s rare tropical glaciers, including the ‘Eternity Glaciers,’ to melt, with experts warning they could be gone by 2026. This amplifies health, extreme weather, and economic risks, threatening local ecosystems, water supply, and contributing to rising sea levels. Climate Risks Daily gives you up-to-date information on health, extreme weather, and climate impacts. You can also filter by region.

Did you know that 2025 is International Year of Glacier preservation? Learn more about the crucial role glaciers play in our future and the threat of glacial melt.