el-nino
Newsletter
Lake Titicaca dries up, threatening Indigenous communities
Persistent drought has brought Lake Titicaca to historic lows, endangering the livelihoods and cultures of the Indigenous Uros people who live on its floating islands.
In short:
- The ongoing drought, exacerbated by El Niño, has significantly reduced water levels in Lake Titicaca, threatening the Uros' traditional way of life.
- Essential resources, like the totora reeds used to build their floating islands, are becoming scarce, impacting the Uros' ability to maintain their homes and crafts.
- The drought is also devastating local agriculture and fisheries, further isolating the Uros and other communities from their primary food sources and income.
Key quote:
"The reeds that we use to build our islands aren’t growing. The lake is drying up and we can’t move."
— Nelson Coila Lujando, member of the Uros community
Why this matters:
This crisis underscores the immediate human impacts of climate change, particularly on vulnerable Indigenous communities whose cultures and livelihoods are directly tied to the environment. Read more: Colonialism, the climate crisis and the need to center Indigenous voices.Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
El Niño-triggered drought leads to severe hunger in southern Africa
A devastating drought driven by the El Niño weather pattern has led to widespread crop failure in Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, resulting in severe food shortages and national emergency declarations.
Jenipher Changwanda and Freddie Clayton report for Yale Environment 360.
In short:
- Southern Africa experienced its worst mid-season dry spell in over a century, drastically reducing maize harvests.
- Food prices in some drought-affected areas have increased by up to 82%, and more than 18 million people now need urgent humanitarian assistance.
- Efforts to adapt with climate-smart farming techniques have had limited success against extreme weather conditions.
Key quote:
“I cannot remember anything like this. People are so hungry they are stealing food ... If we survive until the next harvest, it will be by the grace of God.”
— Esnart Chongani, Zambian farmer
Why this matters:
Climate change is likely making extreme weather events like El Niño more severe, increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts. The current El Niño, a periodic climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, has significantly disrupted weather patterns globally. In Southern Africa, this has manifested in prolonged dry spells and intense heat, crippling agricultural production in regions heavily reliant on rainfall for farming. As global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events are likely to increase.
Opinion: The case for a child-centered energy and climate policy
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Newsletter
El Niño exacerbates southern Africa's severe drought and hunger crisis
As a severe drought, worsened by El Niño, takes hold of southern Africa, an estimated 20 million people face acute hunger due to failing crops and climbing food prices.
Somini Sengupta and Manuela Andreoni report for The New York Times.
In short:
- The drought has triggered national emergencies in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as agricultural communities grapple with the effects.
- Locals are resorting to desperate measures, such as gathering wild tubers in dangerous waters, to fend off starvation.
- Surging corn prices are exacerbating the crisis, with other factors like the Ukrainian conflict and local economic conditions playing a role.
Key quote:
“It’s really important that resilience to droughts, especially in these parts of the continent, should really be improved.”
— Joyce Kimutai, study author and researcher at the Grantham Institute
Why this matters:
The frequency and intensity of El Niño events may be influenced by climate change, potentially leading to more severe and prolonged impacts. As such, during El Niño years, Southern Africa could face heightened challenges in food production and access, thereby worsening the existing hunger crisis in the region.
Climate change—and the subsequent increase in droughts, flooding, and extreme heat—has held back agricultural gains and impeded global food security efforts.
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Newsletter
March sets another global heat record, continuing a worrying trend
March has marked the 10th consecutive month of record-breaking global temperatures, signaling an urgent need for environmental action.
In short:
- March 2024 experienced unprecedented warmth, with average temperatures surpassing previous records and ocean temperatures hitting their highest for the month.
- Scientists attribute this trend to a strong El Nino event and exacerbated by human-induced climate change from fossil fuel emissions.
- Despite the waning El Nino, experts predict that the record-breaking global temperatures will continue unless substantial action is taken against greenhouse gas emissions.
Key quote:
"The trajectory will not change until concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop rising."
— Jennifer Francis, Woodwell Climate Research Center scientist
Why this matters:
Heatwaves, once considered exceptional, are becoming more frequent and severe, affecting millions around the world. These extreme heat events not only pose immediate health risks, especially to the elderly, young children, and those with preexisting health conditions, but also strain our healthcare systems, increase energy demand due to air conditioning, and exacerbate air pollution.
LISTEN: Daniel Carrión on the "heat stroke or go broke" dilemma.
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El Niño and global warming fuel extreme weather disasters
Recent events in Chile and California highlight the devastating effects of climate change and El Niño, combining to cause deadly wildfires and record-breaking floods.
In short:
- Wildfires in Chile and floods in California are driven by a mix of climate change and El Niño, leading to severe weather phenomena.
- Record high temperatures in the Pacific Ocean have exacerbated the conditions, leading to atmospheric river storms in California and intense heatwaves in Chile.
- Disasters such as these demand improvements in infrastructure and heightened preparedness for extreme weather events.
Key quote:
"These synchronized fires and floods in Chile and California are certainly a reminder of the weather extremes and their impacts in otherwise benign Mediterranean climates."
— John Abatzoglou, climate scientist at the University of California, Merced.
Why this matters:
These are stark warnings of the growing impact of climate change on weather extremes, affecting health, safety, and the environment. They emphasize the critical need for nations to adapt to and mitigate the effects of a warming planet, impacting both local communities and global climate patterns.
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Colombia, normally a wet country, battles widespread wildfires
Firefighters, many of them volunteers, have been confronting dozens of blazes amid high temperatures this month. The conditions have been linked to climate change.
Newsletter
The drop in Panama Canal traffic due to a severe drought could cost up to $700 million
A severe drought that began last year has forced authorities to slash ship crossings by 36% in the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important trade routes.
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