UN chief says strengthening El Niño intensifies climate crisis and may boost global temperatures

The United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres warned on Friday that a strengthening El Niño is intensifying an already worsening climate crisis. Describing the weather phenomenon as “adding fuel to a planet already on fire,” he said the current El Niño could push global temperatures to new record highs and exacerbate extreme weather events worldwide.

Guterres’ remarks come as climate scientists monitor rising sea‑surface temperatures in the Pacific that are fueling the El Niño cycle. The United Nations has highlighted that the combined effect of El Niño and ongoing greenhouse‑gas emissions is likely to increase the frequency of heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall, threatening food security and public health. The Secretary‑General urged governments and international bodies to accelerate mitigation and adaptation measures to limit the projected temperature spikes and reduce the broader impact of the climate emergency.