A supercharged El Niño is coming – are we ready?

Share: X (Twitter) Facebook LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Print Shaun Martin is vice president for adaptation and resilience at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the United States. “Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.” A century later, H. Wells’s warning reads less like philosophy and more like a prediction for the near future. Last week, the World Meteorological Organization forecast that a powerful El Niño – a naturally occurring climate pattern marked – will develop in 2026, becoming potentially one of the strongest on record, capable of triggering floods, droughts and extreme heat across the globe. This warning should make one thing crystal clear: we need to move faster to adapt to the rapidly changing climate. Scientists warn El Niño could intensify climate extremes in 2026 Already have an account? Log in here → Continue reading with free access For 15 years, Climate Home News has rigorously reported on the decisions shaping our climate. Join the community of readers who make this work possible. Join free and keep reading → It takes less than a minute. ×Log in to your account Forgot your password? Shaun Martin is vice president for adaptation and resilience at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the United States. “Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.” A century later, H. Wells’s warning reads less like philosophy and more like a prediction for the near future. Last week, the World Meteorological Organization forecast that a powerful El Niño – a naturally occurring climate pattern marked – will develop in 2026, becoming potentially one of the strongest on record, capable of triggering floods, droughts and extreme heat across the globe. This warning should make one thing crystal clear: we need to move faster to adapt to the rapidly changing climate. Scientists warn El Niño could intensify climate extremes in 2026 What does it mean to take climate change adaptation seriously? It means recognising that building resilience to increasing hazards must inform planning and policy-making efforts that go beyond trying to reduce climate emissions. Rising climate risks like extended heatwaves or massive bursts of rainfall should guide decisions about where homes are built, which crops are grown, and how natural resources are managed. We need to invest in systems that withstand and recover from climate-driven shocks rather than collapse under them. Impacts arriving ahead of schedule For decades, climate action has been anchored in mitigation - reducing emissions to prevent future harm.