Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that climate change in Indonesia has been clearly observed through long-term monitoring of various climate indicators, especially temperature and rainfall. Deputy of Climatology at BMKG, Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan, mentioned that climate observations in several regions of Indonesia have been conducted since the 19th century.
"BMKG has been monitoring the climate for a long time; in some places, our observations have been ongoing since the 19th century, around the 1860s," said Ardhasena during the Climate Outlook 2026 virtual event on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
He added that in many other locations, observations began in the mid-20th century. "In those areas, we have recorded climate change in Indonesia through various indicators," he said.
According to him, the most evident indicator of climate change in Indonesia is the trend of rising air temperature since the late 1860s. BMKG recorded temperature increases occurring in all regions of Indonesia, albeit to varying extents. "In urban areas like Jakarta, Surabaya, and others, the trend is higher compared to non-urban areas," he explained.
Aside from temperature, climate change is also reflected in rainfall patterns. Ardhasena mentioned that variations in rainfall occur in the southern equatorial region, while in the surrounding equatorial areas, rainfall trends tend to be stable. "Last year, through our long-term observations, we noted that 2024 was the hottest year in the history of climate records in Indonesia," he added.
For 2026, BMKG predicts that the average temperature will not surpass that of 2024 due to the influence of La Nina. "This does not mean that the Earth as a whole is cooling, but there are annual variations that occur," he said. He cautioned that the Earth's climate system is continuously warming cumulatively.
Ultimately, BMKG is concerned about the potential for extreme impacts in various parts of the world. Ardhasena cited heatwaves in the northern hemisphere. "For example, in the northern hemisphere – in America, Europe, East Asia, there are often heat waves. The extreme temperatures in those regions can exceed 45 degrees Celsius, reaching even 45-46 degrees Celsius," he stated.
"We are often asked if this could happen in Indonesia; currently, we see the likelihood as small," he said. He explained that the dynamic atmospheric conditions in Indonesia tend to inhibit the entry of heatwaves.
Nevertheless, Ardhasena believes that this is not entirely good news. He emphasized the importance of anticipating gradual and sustained increases in temperature and humidity. "How it will impact humans, ecosystems, is what we need to anticipate, and this requires further research," he stated.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2076110/how-temperature-and-rainfall-reveal-climate-change-in-indonesi