In a briefing at the United Nations headquarters in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for urgent measures to tackle extreme heatwaves driven by the El Niño phenomenon, coinciding with the World Meteorological Organization's release of its latest monthly global seasonal climate update.
Guterres warned that the record-breaking temperatures and severe wildfires this summer are merely a "warm-up act" based on the WMO's new forecast. He noted that the El Niño weather pattern is intensifying, effectively "pouring fuel on an already burning planet."
According to Guterres, the Pacific Ocean waters that trigger El Niño have never been this hot at such an early stage of the phenomenon, and ocean temperatures continue to rise. The WMO's latest projections indicate that from August to October this year, almost all land areas worldwide are expected to see above-normal temperatures.
El Niño is not only causing heatwaves but also affecting global precipitation patterns. Regions including Central America, the Caribbean, parts of South America, South Asia, the Southwest Pacific, Europe, and areas of Africa are expected to face both high temperatures and drought conditions.
Guterres emphasized that extreme heat poses a threat to all of society, requiring a whole-of-government response. He urged every country and city to develop comprehensive heat action plans, establish early warning systems, and implement public health measures capable of reaching every community in a timely manner.
Governments and employers must establish labor protection standards for high temperatures, adjust working hours, and ensure workers' income is protected during heat-related shutdowns. Guterres also called for integrating extreme heat protection into the planning, design, and renovation of cities, housing, schools, and hospitals, as well as embedding it into all public programs and budgets.
He stressed that the world cannot continue to fuel the climate crisis and must gradually reduce fossil fuel use. The WMO's latest report indicates that extreme heat is already a real threat, and without action to protect people and address the root causes, it will become increasingly deadly.
Guterres concluded that the "warm-up act" for extreme heat is over, and the world cannot afford to wait for the "main event" to arrive.
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