A Powerful El Niño to Intensify Heat on a Planet Already on Fire: UN Warns
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued its latest update on global weather patterns, warning that a rapidly intensifying El Nino event is set to dominate the coming months and unleash extreme weather across the planet. The United Nations’ climate agency’s report, released on Friday, highlights the growing threat of heatwaves, droughts, and flooding in various regions.
The WMO has projected significant temperature increases over nearly all land areas, with Africa, southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and South America expected to experience above-normal temperatures. The most intense heat signals are forecasted to stretch across these regions, exacerbating existing climate-related challenges.
According to scientists, El Nino’s periodic climate phenomenon is closely tied to human-induced climate change, with fossil fuel expansion being a key driver of the crisis. “El Niño is not just on our doorstep, it is inside the house and turning up the heat,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his statement. “This is only a warm-up act. El Nino is strengthening, adding fuel to a planet already on fire.”
Central Pacific sea-surface temperatures are projected to soar more than 2.9 degrees Celsius (5.22 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, upending weather systems and driving global temperature spikes. This abnormal warming of surface waters will have far-reaching consequences for the environment and human populations.
Guterres urged nations to take immediate action to address climate change, calling on governments to fast-track their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from fossil fuels. “The decisions we make today will shape the impacts we experience tomorrow,” he emphasized.
While El Nino is closely tracked by scientists, early warnings must translate into concrete action by governments and humanitarian agencies to safeguard vulnerable communities. The WMO projects above-normal temperatures across nearly all land areas, with the most intense heat signals stretching across Africa, southern Europe, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, and South America.
As El Nino intensifies, it is essential that nations prioritize climate action and take immediate steps to mitigate its impacts. “Forecasts in themselves do not prevent hazards; people do,” WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said. “The decisions we make today will shape the impacts we experience tomorrow.”
Scientists caution that this year’s El Nino could reach record intensity when it peaks in the latter half of the year, although computer model projections remain uncertain. The UN and other climate agencies are closely monitoring the situation and urging nations to take action to address the growing threat posed by El Niño.
Source: Al Jazeera
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera.
