The Guardian view on a supersized El Niño: a natural phenomenon and human folly are a lethal combination
Hundreds of thousands are expected to die, millions to go hungry. This is not just about weather patterns, but about injustice
TL;DR
- A 'Godzilla-level' El Niño, potentially the strongest in a millennium, is heating the planet.
- Next year is expected to be the hottest on record globally due to El Niño and the human-caused climate crisis.
- The World Food Programme warns of 50 million people pushed into acute hunger.
- An estimated 450,000 deaths could be caused by El Niño's extra heat by February.
- El Niño increases drought risk in some regions and rainfall in others, impacting crops and water supplies.
- Recent strong El Niños have been supercharged by global overheating from fossil fuels.
- The poorest populations are disproportionately affected by El Niño's impacts due to living conditions and health, and are least able to cope.
- The UK is warned it is 'built for a climate that no longer exists'.
- Boosting the loss and damage fund for developing countries is a global priority.
- This unprecedented El Niño could serve as a catalyst for action against global heating and associated injustices.