El Niño's return highlights systemic climate vulnerabilities and global early warning gaps
Original framing: “El Niño confirmed, set to fuel more extreme weather, says WMO” — UN News
El Niño events have historically been more frequent and intense during periods of high greenhouse gas emissions. The 1997-1998 El Niño, for instance, coincided with rising global temperatures and caused widespread devastation, particularly in regions with weak governance and infrastructure.
The return of El Niño is not just a meteorological event but a systemic crisis rooted in historical emissions, economic inequality, and the marginalization of Indigenous and local knowledge.
To build resilience, we must integrate diverse epistemologies—scientific, Indigenous, and cross-cultural—into climate policy and early warning systems. This requires a shift in global power dynamics, where vulnerable communities are not only included in decision-making but also recognized as key knowledge-holders. By learning from past climate events and leveraging both traditional and modern tools, we can create more adaptive and just systems for the future.