Asian countries have accelerated preparations for the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to peak in intensity by the end of this year and early 2027 due to the warming of the Pacific Ocean and the global climate crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that approximately 50 million people could face acute hunger due to extreme weather events.
“Elchi” reports that after record-level temperatures in Hong Kong, mandates were introduced requiring workplaces to provide cooling equipment and mandatory breaks; authorities announced that employers could be penalized for failing to comply.
Chinese authorities launched a 100-day campaign against drought and excessive rainfall and decided to create “climate risk maps” for cities.
Meanwhile, Taiwan treated the expected extreme heat with the same urgency as emergency crises, conducting drills for scenarios involving temperatures above 40 degrees and launching online systems to direct the public to air-conditioned spaces.
Concerns about drought and food crises in South Asia
In India, following a 50 percent decrease in monsoon rains in September, officials strengthened water conservation infrastructure in more than 350 districts and encouraged farmers to switch to crops that require less water.
In Sri Lanka, which is battling its worst drought in a decade, more than 160,000 people have faced shortages of drinking water.
Authorities began transporting water via tankers to protect wildlife in Yala National Park and considered plans for seawater desalination if freshwater sources are completely depleted.
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