Powerful El Nino to intensify heat on ‘a planet already on fire’: UN
The UN has warned that a rapidly intensifying El Nino event is set to drive extreme weather, including heatwaves and floods, across the globe. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate halt to new fossil fuel projects to mitigate the compounding effects of climate change.
Why it matters
The warning highlights the urgent intersection of natural climate phenomena and human-induced global warming, signaling potential economic and humanitarian crises.
UN chief Guterres calls for halt to new fossil fuels as El Nino induces heatwaves, floods, and drought worldwide
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info The El Nino-induced dry season has sparked wildfires across the globe this year. [File: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images] By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 31 Jul 2026 31 Jul 2026 A rapidly intensifying El Nino event is set to dominate global weather patterns in the coming months, unleashing extreme weather across the planet, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned.
The United Nations weather agency’s latest update, released on Friday, said that the periodic climate phenomenon threatens to heighten the risk of heatwaves, drought, and flooding around the globe. The report comes as countries in Africa and Europe are battling massive wildfires, while monsoon season has caused havoc across South Asia .
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