- The Met Office and the United Nations have warned that this year’s climate change-driven 'super' El Niño is set to be the strongest on record, with tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures forecast to peak at up to 4C above normal levels.
- The “unprecedented weather event”, which has been described as “truly mind-blowing”, is expected to trigger torrential rain and flooding across parts of East Africa alongside severe droughts in southern Africa, potentially pushing an additional 49 million people worldwide into hunger.
- Humanitarian relief efforts face a critical shortfall as the crisis hits amidst severe foreign aid cuts by wealthy countries, including the UK reducing its overseas development spending to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income.
- The UK economy will feel the impact through higher household costs and stormy winter weather, with around a quarter of food imports—such as coffee, cocoa, and rice—originating from regions most vulnerable to the climate shock.
- Cross-party MPs and international development charities are urging the UK government to reverse aid cuts and re-establish international climate leadership to help vulnerable nations adapt to compounding humanitarian emergencies.
IN FULL
