The United Nations has issued a warning about the increasing intensity of the El Nino weather event. This natural phenomenon, characterized by warming of the Pacific Ocean near the equator, is expected to cause severe weather worldwide. A part of the Pacific Ocean used to gauge El Nino’s strength has reached unprecedented warmth, according to Columbia University scientists.
This El Nino’s full impact will emerge over months, extending until spring 2027. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency, forecasts significant temperature hikes, droughts, and rainfall variations next year.
Two months ago, I warned that El Nino was arriving on our doorstep. Now it is inside the house — and turning up the heat,said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday.
Unusual heat and wildfires have been rampant this summer, with record temperatures observed globally. Guterres emphasized that this is the beginning, with El Nino poised to exacerbate the situation. The climate crisis is described as being in a critical phase.
Forecast models predict that El Nino may soon surpass historical records for intensity, but this is not certain. Chaotic weather extremes like increased rainfall and heatwaves are anticipated.
Columbia University climate scientist Jeffrey Shaman indicated that El Nino’s effects will merge with the long-term global warming induced by fossil fuel consumption. He cautioned against possible unprecedented global heat next summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
Prior to this, the strong El Nino is set to alter rainfall patterns, potentially causing drought and wildfires across Indonesia, India, South America, Southern Africa, and parts of Australia. In contrast, regions like the United States and Southern Europe may experience above-average rainfall.
Celeste Saulo, the WMO Secretary-General, urged governments and communities to anticipate these risks and prepare accordingly.
El Nino and climate change together intensify these phenomena. Guterres expressed concern that the connection between them is underestimated. He highlighted the distraction caused by geopolitical conflicts, such as those in Ukraine and Sudan, drawing attention away from the climate threat.
Guterres emphasized the influence of the fossil fuel industry in downplaying these problems. He called on the U.N. to increase awareness and action, urging governments to recognize climate change as a critical threat. The warming from fossil fuel combustion predominantly heats the oceans, but during El Nino, this heat is released back into the atmosphere.
Even after this El Nino subsides, the heat will remain in the atmosphere, exacerbating future climate challenges. Guterres advocates for better early warning systems and safer working conditions to combat extreme heat, focusing on the garment industry’s labor force.
Guterres stressed that reducing reliance on coal, oil, and gas is essential to mitigate these issues, warning against a future made more unstable by continued fossil fuel use.