The 1997–1998 El Niño phenomenon resulted in extreme weather conditions across Southeast Asia, causing severe droughts and massive forest fires, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. These fires released significant carbon emissions, severely impacting air quality and public health in the region. The environmental and economic consequences of this event underscored the vulnerabilities of Southeast Asian countries to climate variability and the urgent need for effective disaster management strategies.

Southeast Asian poets documented haze, loss of forests, and health impacts, contributing to emerging ecopoetic voices in the region that address globalization and environmental exploitation.