Volunteers combat Borneo peat fires releasing carbon and smog

Peat fires raging across Indonesia’s Borneo island are now emitting carbon that has been stored underground for millennia, according to scientists monitoring the region’s air quality. The combustion of these carbon‑rich peatlands releases greenhouse gases at rates far exceeding those of typical forest fires, contributing significantly to atmospheric carbon levels. Satellite imagery and ground measurements indicate that the blazes have burned through thousands of hectares of peat, a process that not only liberates ancient carbon but also produces dense, hazardous smoke that has drifted over large parts of Southeast Asia.

The resulting smog has triggered air‑quality alerts in neighboring countries, with elevated concentrations of particulate matter and toxic gases reported in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Health officials have warned of increased respiratory problems, especially among vulnerable populations, while regional governments are coordinating firefighting efforts and urging stricter enforcement of land‑use regulations to prevent further peat ignition. Experts stress that curbing peat fires is essential to mitigate both short‑term health risks and long‑term climate impacts.