‘Forcing a reckoning’: How Asia is preparing for a ‘supersized’ El Niño
From Sri Lanka to South Korea, governments are preparing for droughts, wildfires, typhoons and floods – with climate plans facing their biggest challenge to date
TL;DR
- Asian governments are preparing for a severe El Niño event, anticipating multiple crises including extreme heat, heavy rain, and food shortages.
- El Niño's intensity is amplified by the human-driven climate crisis, leading to warnings of acute hunger for millions.
- Countries like Hong Kong are revising workplace policies for extreme heat, while China is launching campaigns to safeguard harvests.
- Taiwan is treating the predicted weather as an emergency, simulating extreme heat scenarios and using a 'Cool Map' platform.
- India is boosting water conservation and encouraging low-water crops due to monsoon shortfalls impacting key harvests.
- Sri Lanka faces its worst drought in a decade, with water shortages affecting people and wildlife, and potential reliance on desalination.
- Southeast Asia's El Niño impact is compounded by existing crises, with projected reductions in rice yields.
- South Korea and Japan are experiencing record heat and preparing for potential super-typhoons, with revised heatwave alert systems and public advisories.
- Preventive measures include upgrading infrastructure, securing homes, and stocking supplies in anticipation of extreme weather events.