El Niño intensifies climate vulnerability in Asia: systemic risks and global interdependencies
Original framing: “‘Unpredictable and extreme’: Asia braces for El Niño” — The Guardian - Environment
Historically, El Niño events have been more frequent and severe in the context of rising global temperatures. The 1997-1998 El Niño, for example, was one of the strongest on record and had devastating impacts on agriculture and water systems in Asia, revealing long-standing vulnerabilities.
The intensification of El Niño events in Asia is not a natural inevitability but a product of intersecting systemic forces—climate change, colonial legacies, and global economic structures.
Indigenous knowledge systems offer valuable insights into climate resilience, while historical patterns reveal recurring vulnerabilities shaped by inequality. Cross-cultural perspectives challenge the dominant Western scientific framing and open space for more holistic solutions. By integrating Indigenous knowledge, strengthening regional cooperation, and amplifying marginalized voices, Asia can build more adaptive and just climate responses. The trickster's disruptive lens reminds us to question the narratives of inevitability and to imagine alternative futures rooted in reciprocity and balance.