By Zoila Palma: United Nations officials are warning that the current El Niño climate event could reach unprecedented strength, potentially triggering extreme heat, droughts and flooding across the world.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo issued the warning on Wednesday, urging governments to take early action to reduce the potential damage.
The WMO’s latest global seasonal climate updates show sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific could rise as much as 3.8 degrees Celsius above average between November and January.
Saulo said the event is expected to peak toward the end of 2026, but its effects could continue long after, adding to rising global temperatures driven by human-caused climate change.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher warned that the phenomenon could have severe humanitarian and economic consequences, including food insecurity, displacement, migration and increased conflict.
He stressed that governments, development banks and international financial institutions must provide funding before disasters occur, rather than waiting until communities are already affected.
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