International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has warned that El Niño could cost the global economy up to 11 trillion dollars and threaten food security.
The warning was contained in a new report released at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
The report identified small-scale farmers as particularly vulnerable to overlapping economic and climate shocks, but said coordinated interventions could significantly reduce their losses.
Türkiye’s Agriculture Minister, Ibrahim Yumakli, said farmers needed reliable water supplies, affordable agricultural inputs, financing, insurance and access to markets to withstand such challenges.
Also, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Celeste Saulo, warned that El Niño could worsen heat-related illnesses, disease outbreaks and air pollution into 2027.
She cited more than 30,000 excess deaths in Europe linked to heatwaves, drought and wildfires.
