UN warns countries to prepare for ‘devastating’ El Niño
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued an urgent climate warning, cautioning that the rapid emergence of the El Niño weather pattern threatens to trigger severe weather disruptions across the globe.
The warning follows a newly released update from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), which indicates an 80% probability of El Niño conditions establishing by August. The agency added that the likelihood of the weather pattern persisting through November has already risen above 90%.
In a video message, Guterres stressed that the Pacific Ocean-warming phenomenon is arriving at a time of already unprecedented global temperatures.
“El Niño conditions will pour fuel on the fire of a warming world,” Guterres said. “Impacts will hit even harder, travel even farther, and cross borders with devastating speed.”
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo noted that while some uncertainty remains regarding the peak strength of the cycle, most forecasting models suggest it will be at least moderate, with a strong possibility of developing into a powerful climate event by the end of the year. Saulo emphasised that advanced seasonal forecasts are vital to saving lives and protecting vulnerable agricultural and economic sectors.
In response to the looming threat, the UN has called for accelerated international climate action. Guterres reiterated that mitigating the growing risks requires aggressive structural shifts, including an immediate transition away from fossil fuel dependence, a rapid scale-up of renewable energy, and the comprehensive expansion of early warning systems to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.
