Super El Niño could cause nearly 900,000 heat deaths worldwide

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 16:35 · Archive

Climate scientists predict a Super El Niño weather phenomenon will cause nearly 900,000 excess heat-related deaths across the world over ten months.

Climate scientists at the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab have produced an El Niño Heat Mortality Tracker warning that a Super El Niño could lead to nearly 900,000 additional heat deaths worldwide. The tracker estimates 484,500 excess heat-related deaths have already occurred between June and September, with around 372,900 more forecast for the next six months.

The countries predicted to be most severely affected are Nigeria, India and Indonesia. Nigeria is expected to see the highest death toll, with more than 56,000 additional deaths forecast across the next six months. India faces around 55,000 heat-related deaths, while Indonesia could see approximately 29,000. Together with China, these three countries are predicted to account for more than one third of deaths related to El Niño.

El Niño occurs when average sea surface temperatures in the central and tropical Pacific Ocean rise above the long-term average by 2C or more. Michael Greenstone, co-founder of the Climate Impact Lab, said the research provides forecasting capabilities to identify where extreme heat is likely to cost lives, allowing decision-makers a chance to act before lives are lost. The mortality tracker spans approximately 3,700 regions worldwide and is updated monthly with forecasts for the next six months.

How it is being reported

• Super El Niño could kill 870,000 people around the world, warn climate scientistsChina, India and Nigeria are are among the countries expected to be hardest hit, according to researchers at the University of ChicagoIndependent World · 29 Oct, 16:17
• Apocalyptic Super El Niño map shows where most people will die from record-breaking calamityAn alarming map from the Climate Impact Lab shows where Super El Niño will cause the most additional heat deaths as the weather anomaly gains steam in the Pacific.New York Post · 28 Oct, 14:26

In this story: Climate Impact Lab · University of Chicago · Nigeria · India · Indonesia · Michael Greenstone · China

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