El Niño climate patterns supercharged by burning of fossil fuels, study finds
‘Godzilla’ event currently brewing could push 50 million people into acute hunger before the end of next year
TL;DR
- Human-caused global warming is making El Niño climatic patterns more intense.
- The current 'Godzilla' El Niño is predicted to be one of the strongest in memory.
- Stronger El Niños have caused global temperature records to be broken in 1998, 2016, and 2024.
- Analysis of ancient coral fossils from the Galápagos Islands reveals a significant increase in El Niño variability since preindustrial times.
- The amplified El Niño events can lead to severe climate hazards such as heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and droughts.
- The 'Godzilla' El Niño could push approximately 50 million people worldwide into acute hunger by the end of next year.
- Scientists urge a rapid transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate the root cause of these intensifying climate events.