Asian governments are rushing preparations as Tampa Bay weather is being measured against the most severe El Niño on record. António Guterres said this month that El Niño was "being supersized before our eyes". The immediate question is whether the measures now under way can keep pace with a system already disrupting parts of Asia and still expected to strengthen.
The World Food Programme warned that about 50 million people will probably be pushed into acute hunger. The weather system is expected to reach a very strong intensity towards the end of this year and into 2027, with extreme heat, heavy rain, droughts, floods and food shortages among the risks.
Hong Kong and China move first
Hong Kong authorities revised workplace policies after the city experienced its hottest day on record on 9 August. During extreme heat, companies are expected to reschedule work, provide cooling equipment and rest breaks for employees, and employers could face prosecution if they do not provide support during sweltering conditions.
In mainland China, a 100-day campaign has been launched to prepare for extreme weather and help safeguard harvests. In July, China also launched a national plan encouraging cities to draw up "climate risk maps," while Beijing plans to upgrade early warning monitoring systems.
Taiwan and India prepare crops
Taiwan held a mass exercise in early September simulating three consecutive days of temperatures above 40C. Hundreds of people took part, testing responses to power and water disruption, rail problems, air conditioner failure and mass heatstroke, while Taiwan has also been testing its "Cool Map" online platform.
In India, September monsoon rainfall in parts of the country was short by almost 50%, and the shortage is affecting rice, pulses, cotton and maize. Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the government's approach as a "protective shield for farmers" while authorities acted in more than 350 vulnerable districts, encouraging low-water, short duration crops such as pulses and millets.
Sri Lanka and the next phase
Sri Lanka is facing its worst drought in a decade, and more than 160,000 people are dealing with a drinking water shortage. The pattern across the region is already forcing governments to respond to heat, crop stress and water supply pressure at the same time, even as El Niño is expected to intensify further toward the end of this year and into 2027.
For households, farms and employers, the practical issue is no longer preparation in the abstract. The response now has to cover heat, water and food at once, because the threat is arriving in stages rather than all at once.
