The El Niño climate phenomenon has caused temperatures in a major region of the Pacific Ocean to rise to unprecedented levels this month, according to the European Union Climate Observatory, Monday, in a new indication of the intensification of this extreme phenomenon.
Meteorologists around the world have warned for months that the current “El Niño” may become the strongest ever, as it has already broken the last record even before the phenomenon reaches its expected peak later this year.
“El Niño” is a warming phase within a natural climate cycle that leads to higher temperatures in the waters of the tropical Pacific Ocean. This causes changes in weather patterns that may increase the risk of drought and floods and exacerbate global warming caused by human activity.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that sea surface temperatures in a key region for monitoring the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, known as El Niño 3.4, reached an unprecedented record level of 29.70 degrees Celsius last month.
This temperature exceeded the maximum levels recorded during the previous strong El Niño waves in the years 1982-1983, 1997-1998, and 2015-2016. This “confirms the exceptional severity of the current El Niño phenomenon,” according to the European Observatory.
But Copernicus confirmed in a statement to Agence France-Presse that “it cannot yet be confirmed that the current El Niño phenomenon is the strongest ever.”
As ocean temperatures rise due to climate change, the recent El Niño waves may appear stronger than previous ones. This complicates historical comparisons.
The Copernicus Observatory explained that it had adopted a new indicator that takes into account the rising temperature of the tropical oceans, and indicates that the current phenomenon has not yet surpassed previous waves in terms of strength, but it indicated to “Agence France-Presse” that the values recorded in September “indicate that the (El Niño) phenomenon is indeed exceptionally strong, especially since it has not yet reached its peak.” Not all meteorologists use the same scale to evaluate the El Niño phenomenon.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency announced on Friday that the El Niño phenomenon had reached “the highest intensity ever recorded,” with temperatures in the area designated for monitoring rising by four degrees Celsius above normal.
With the intensification of El Niño, global average sea surface temperatures recorded a record high for September of 21.05 degrees Celsius, exceeding the previous record for the same month recorded in 2023, which reached 20.92 degrees Celsius, according to Copernicus.
The world in general recorded the second hottest September on record. The average air temperature at the Earth's surface reached 16.27 degrees Celsius, according to the European Observatory.
Temperatures in September were 1.63 degrees Celsius higher than average levels before the Industrial Revolution, i.e. the period extending between 1850 and 1900.
During the United Nations climate conference in Paris in 2015, countries agreed to keep global temperature rise at a level well below two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial revolution levels, while continuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius, to limit the repercussions of climate change.
But the United Nations announced in September that the world would exceed the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the long term within a few years.
The director of the Copernicus Observatory, Carlo Bontempo, said in a statement: “We are witnessing a new series of months in which warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius, and with the strong El Niño phenomenon continuing to intensify, this is likely to continue until 2027.” He added: “Exceeding the long-term limit stipulated in the Paris Agreement is only a matter of time.” But the extent to which we exceed this limit and how long we will remain above it are still subject to our decisions.”
Scientists stress the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuels to reduce the period during which global warming exceeds the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold, and to return temperatures to below it as quickly as possible.
Experts have warned that the current El Niño wave could push global temperatures to a new record level in 2027.
The El Niño phenomenon causes sea surface temperatures to rise in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Which causes changes in wind patterns, air pressure, and precipitation around the world. This phenomenon usually occurs every two to seven years, and lasts about nine to 12 months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia is violating the ceasefire in the energy sector announced by US President Donald Trump, and urged Washington to intervene to ensure Moscow adheres to its conditions, at a time when Moscow called for long-term peace.
Zelensky confirmed, via video link, during a security conference held in Warsaw: “There have been Russian violations of the ceasefire in the energy sector announced by President Trump.”
Zelensky, who said he learned of the ceasefire agreement from the media, added: “We are awaiting the details of the conditions agreed upon between the Americans and the Russians, and we are waiting to see one specific step that the Americans are preparing to take.”
He continued: “This ceasefire could succeed in the energy sector, and it could become a major step towards ending the war if the Americans really intervene now and make sure that the Russians respect it.”
On the other hand, Russia refrained from confirming the validity of an agreement with Ukraine to stop mutual attacks on energy facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “Contacts are continuing.” “As soon as we have something to say on this matter, we will be sure to inform you.”
In response to a separate question about Kiev's call for a comprehensive ceasefire for a period of 60 days to allow for elections, Peskov told reporters, "We do not want a ceasefire, but rather we want long-term peace."
European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas announced earlier today that the bloc would welcome a truce in strikes on energy facilities between Russia and Ukraine “when it holds.”
Callas said, during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels: “We welcome the energy truce when it holds.” “We have not yet seen that Russia will adhere to it.”
Callas stressed that any truce must include more than the oil refineries in the two countries, noting that “Ukraine has one refinery, and Russia has a number of refineries, and therefore this is clearly in the interest of the Russians.”
Trump's announcement of an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to stop targeting energy infrastructure sparked a state of confusion, as the announcement caught Kiev by surprise, while Moscow remained silent about it.
Trump's announcement came after he announced, on Friday, that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Moscow to release large quantities of diesel on global markets in exchange for easing some of the sanctions imposed on it.
The move angered Ukraine, its European allies, and a number of American lawmakers.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas welcomed today (Monday) the announcement of a ceasefire in the energy sector between Russia and Ukraine, but added that she looked forward to a halt that “would not lead to deaths.”
She said that it was not clear whether Moscow would adhere to the ceasefire, and also called on the United States to impose sanctions on Russia, according to what Reuters reported.
She added: “We will urge the United States to impose sanctions so that we can actually end the war.”
Callas also stressed, according to Agence France-Presse, that any truce must include more than the oil refineries in the two countries, noting that “Ukraine has one refinery and Russia has many refineries, and therefore this is clearly in the interest of the Russians.”
US President Donald Trump's announcement of an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to stop targeting energy infrastructure sparked a state of confusion, as the announcement caught Kiev by surprise while Moscow remained silent about it.
After that, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian strikes targeted several power plants, one in Kiev and another in Kharkiv, which led to a power outage in the capital.
Ukraine's Western allies expressed their support for calls for a real ceasefire with Russia.
Australia also announced on Monday its support for the “energy truce.” A spokesman for the Australian Foreign Ministry said in a statement to Agence France-Presse, “Australia supports a ceasefire in the energy sector that is respected by Russia and contributes to a just and lasting peace, according to the conditions set by Ukraine.”
Callas later announced that European Union foreign ministers had approved nearly 1,600 new sanctions items targeting the Russian military-industrial complex. She added in a post on X, “More than half of them are related to the ballistic missile production chain.”
The ministers ratified an agreement reached by European Union envoys last Wednesday.
Trump's announcement came after he announced on Friday that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Moscow to release large quantities of diesel on global markets in exchange for easing some of the sanctions imposed on it. The move angered Ukraine, its European allies, and a number of American lawmakers.
Callas said that the best way to stop these attacks on oil refineries in Russia and power plants in Ukraine is for Moscow to stop the war. She continued, “Our message is clear: If we want to put an end to this war, the only way to achieve that is to put more pressure on Russia,” calling on the United States to “impose the necessary sanctions so that we can truly put an end to the war.” For her part, Latvian Foreign Minister Paipa Bragi said, “There is no other path: pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine.”
