UN Chief warns of extreme weather risks, urges urgent climate action ahead of El Nino
Geneva, June 3
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged countries to take urgent climate action to tackle worsening extreme weather risks ahead of El Nino.
Sharing a press statement issued by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Guterres said the climate phenomenon would intensify the impacts of global warming and increase the frequency of extreme weather events worldwide.
"The science is clear: El Nino is arriving on our doorstep in the coming months with 90 per cent certainty. The world must treat it as the urgent climate warning it is," Guterres said.
The WMO statement warned that above-average temperatures are expected across nearly all parts of the globe between June and August, increasing the risks of heat stress, the development of drought conditions and heavy rainfall in some areas.
Noting how each El Nino event affects regions differently, the WMO highlighted that South Asia is expected to receive below-average monsoon rainfall this year, according to the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum.
"The Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF) predicts a high likelihood of below-normal rainfall across much of the northern Greater Horn of Africa during the critical June-September rainy season", the statement said.
For the Central America region, it said that as per the Central America Climate Outlook Forum, the area is expected to experience drier and warmer conditions.
It further mentioned that while rainfall probabilities are typical of El Nino patterns, this is likely to contribute to a greater probability of extremes (e.g. increased rainfall and flooding, as well as drier conditions and droughts.
Calling for immediate global action, the UN chief stressed that the only effective response was "ending the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all."
— ANI
Reader Comments
The UN chief's message about "ending addiction to fossil fuels" is sensible, but the West developed using coal and oil. Now they want us to skip that path? India needs energy for millions still living in poverty. I'm all for climate action, but it should be fair - developing nations need support, not just lectures. 🇮🇳
Having lived through El Niño effects in Australia before moving to India, I can tell you the extremes are real. In 2015-16, we had devastating bushfires followed by floods. The science is not a hoax. I hope India's recent heatwave action plans and early warning systems serve as a model for other developing countries. People's lives depend on this.
As a climate researcher, I appreciate the WMO's regional focus. South Asia and Horn of Africa both getting below-average rain? That affects millions of food-insecure people. But I have a small disagreement with the UN chief - he talks about "early warning systems" but doesn't mention what after the warning. India needs better disaster relief infrastructure, especially for farmers who lose everything to one bad monsoon. 🛡️
Interesting how this warning comes right after record April heat in India. We're already seeing the effects - wheat crop yields down, power demand spiking. The 90% El Niño probability is alarming. But I'm cautiously optimistic about India's renewable push - 175 GW target by 2022 wasn't fully met, but we're making progress. Every solar panel helps, as they say. ☀️
My family in Kerala still remembers
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