Weather experts warn that a strengthening El Niño weather system threatens India's monsoon and could bring hotter, drier conditions across much of the world, as UN secretary general António Guterres said the planet is 'on fire'.
Key facts
- India's monsoon rains are in danger as a stronger El Niño takes hold.
- Hotter, drier conditions are forecast across much of the world.
- UN secretary general António Guterres said El Niño is 'adding fuel to a planet already on fire'.
- Guterres warned the world is being pushed into 'uncharted territory'.
India’s monsoon is in danger and hotter, drier conditions are forecast across much of the world as a stronger El Niño weather system takes hold, weather experts have warned, according to the Guardian.
António Guterres, the UN secretary general, said the strengthening El Niño was “adding fuel to a planet already on fire” and pushing the world into “uncharted territory”.
The warning centres on the potential impact to India’s monsoon rains, which are a critical seasonal weather event for the country. Meteorologists cited by the Guardian said the intensifying El Niño system poses a threat to these rains.
Beyond India, the strengthening weather system is expected to drive hotter and drier conditions across much of the world, according to the report.
Guterres framed the developments as part of a broader climate crisis, using the language of a planet “on fire” to underscore the severity of the situation as conditions move into what he described as “uncharted territory”.
Why it matters
India's monsoon rains are vital for agriculture, water supplies and the livelihoods of millions of people, so any disruption can have wide-ranging consequences. A strengthening El Niño combined with an already warming planet raises the stakes for weather extremes worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
What did the UN chief say about the climate?
UN secretary general António Guterres said the strengthening El Niño was 'adding fuel to a planet already on fire' and pushing the world into 'uncharted territory', according to the Guardian.
Why is India's monsoon at risk?
Weather experts warn that a stronger El Niño weather system taking hold is putting India's monsoon rains in danger, according to the Guardian.
What effects are forecast globally?
Hotter, drier conditions are forecast across much of the world as the stronger El Niño takes hold, the Guardian reports.