El Niño threatens global harvests with droughts and flooding
· World · New Scientist, New York Times
El Niño-driven weather extremes have triggered severe droughts and flooding across key farming regions, jeopardizing staple crop yields and inflating global food prices. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed in June 2024 that the El Niño event has peaked, yet its climatic ripple effects persist through late 2024 and into 2025. Major agricultural zones in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Americas are experiencing below-average rainfall or excess precipitation, undermining harvest forecasts. These conditions raise alarms about supply shortfalls and heightened risk of localized famines in vulnerable regions.
Why it matters
Smallholder farmers and low-income consumers face the steepest price spikes and scarcity risks as global staple supplies tighten.
Read the original report — New Scientist
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