UN Secretary-General Guterres Warns of Intensified Climate Pressure from El Niño

What Is El Niño?

Meteorologists understand the term El Niño to mean a periodic warming of the surface waters in the tropical Pacific. The phenomenon occurs at irregular intervals and influences weather patterns worldwide. Frequent consequences are droughts in South America and Australia, as well as altered precipitation patterns in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the ongoing El Niño phase has caused global average temperatures to rise further. New heat records have been measured in several world regions. Particularly affected, according to the WMO, are parts of South America, Africa, and South Asia, where the combination of El Niño and long-term climate change is triggering extreme heat waves.

Impacts on Europe

The weather situation is also affecting daily life in Europe and thus in Germany. In France and Spain, temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in recent weeks. German weather services warned of an increased risk of forest fires and a rising burden on physically weaker people.

Scientists such as atmospheric researcher Robert Wagner point to additional physical effects. Wagner explained that soot particles could act as condensation nuclei in the atmosphere and promote the formation of high, thin ice clouds. These clouds reflected solar radiation on the one hand, but on the other also absorbed the thermal radiation emitted by the Earth, which tended to contribute to warming.

Scientific Explanations

The political debate over binding climate targets continues in the meantime. Guterres pointed out that the pledges made by states so far were insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In addition to faster national measures, he also called for stronger financial support for particularly affected developing countries.

Observers see in the Secretary-General's latest statement an attempt, in light of the new weather situation, to increase international pressure on negotiating partners. Upcoming UN climate conferences are likely, according to diplomats, to be more strongly marked by the effects of El Niño, as many governments have announced short-term climate adaptation measures.

Political Reactions

Guterres announced that he would discuss the scientific findings on the impact of El Niño on the global climate with member states and research institutions in the coming weeks. The goal is to present a comprehensive report that outlines policy options for policymakers and society.

In parallel, European countries are preparing for further heat waves. In Spain, plans for enhanced cooling of public buildings have already been activated; in France, water reserves and emergency plans are being reviewed. In Germany as well, authorities are deliberating measures to protect vulnerable population groups during the summer months.

In the long term, according to Guterres, the effectiveness of measures depends on the political will of the major economies. Without a significant reduction in fossil emissions, global warming will remain on a critical trajectory even if the El Niño phase subsides. The coming years will show whether the international community of states can translate the warnings into concrete policy.