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Episode · The Climate Question

"Super" El Niños and climate change

28 Jun 2026 · 22 min

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Scientists say the El Niño weather pattern has started and this one is potentially so strong that it could have devastating effects in many parts of the world. So how does El Niño work exactly? And what’s the connection with climate change? El Niño starts when water temperatures rise near the Pacific coast of South America, but the impact on weather is felt around the globe. Some regions are more likely to experience severe droughts or more powerful storms; others could face the threat of severe flooding. This “Super” El Niño is likely to add 0.2 or 0.3 degrees to the global temperature.…

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The Climate Question

BBC World Service · Tech & Science · English

Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

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