Surviving El Nino: A Story of Devastation and Climate Impacts

In this episode, we dive into the world of El Nino, a weather phenomenon that has far-reaching effects on our planet. We begin with a gripping personal story from Jack Egan, who recounts his harrowing experience during the devastating bushfires in Australia in 2019. As Jack describes the intense firestorm and the fear he felt for his partner's safety, we gain a firsthand understanding of the destructive power of these natural disasters.

But what exactly is El Nino? We explore this question, learning that it occurs every four to seven years and is characterized by unusual warming of waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This seemingly distant event has a significant impact on weather systems around the world, and its effects are already being felt in our current episode.

Our discussion turns to the current El Nino, which started in June 2021 and is already wreaking havoc in various regions. Extreme droughts and high temperatures are just some of the devastating impacts being experienced. We delve into the history of previous El Nino events, which have caused wildfires, droughts, floods, and extreme heatwaves in different parts of the world.

Food security is a major concern when it comes to El Nino. Countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and Central America are already grappling with severe droughts, threatening their agricultural systems and livelihoods. Additionally, we explore the health impacts of El Nino, as it can lead to the spread of diseases such as malaria and cholera.

As we look to the future, we discuss the expected amplification of the effects of global warming by the current El Nino. This means even hotter temperatures and more extreme weather events on the horizon. However, there is hope. Governments and individuals can take proactive steps to prepare for the impacts of El Nino, such as implementing drought-resistant farming practices and improving disaster response systems.

In the concluding segment, we emphasize the urgent need for greater funding and preparation for climate-related disasters. We also highlight the importance of reducing emissions to mitigate the impacts of El Nino and climate change as a whole. Join us as we navigate the challenges posed by El Nino and explore the pathways to a more resilient future.

Extreme weather is constantly in the news, but a new factor is just getting warmed up: El Niño. This Pacific Ocean phenomenon can have devastating effects in some parts of the world while benefiting others; it is linked to droughts as well as floods; and this year’s looks like it may be severe.

Maarten van Aalst, a professor of climate and disaster resilience at the University of Twente, explains how the current El Niño will affect the climate in unpredictable ways. Chris Funk, the director of the Climate Hazards Center at the University of California Santa Barbara, looks at global effects that are already under way. Plus, the harrowing tale of Jack Egan, who lost his home to bushfires in Australia during the last El Niño event. Catherine Brahic, The Economist’s environment editor, and our correspondent Rachel Dobbs consider how prepared countries are for this event. Alok Jha, The Economist’s science and technology editor, hosts.

For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.