Britain must act now to prepare for a potentially severe El Niño event that could disrupt global food supplies and economies, a Labour MP has told the Prime Minister.
Chris Hinchliff, the MP for North East Hertfordshire, urged the Prime Minister to chair the government’s Climate and Nature Security Taskforce and to take “urgent action” as meteorologists monitor a developing El Niño in the Pacific that the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) says is already strong and is expected to strengthen further between August and October.
MP warns of major supply and price shocks
Hinchliff told the Prime Minister the indications suggested “this event will be off the charts in terms of the level of impact”, pointing to the potential for severe consequences for supply chains, crop yields and global markets. He said constituents in his area – including farmers, teachers and commuters – were already anxious about current heat and drought conditions.
“This event will be off the charts in terms of the level of impact.”
The government responded by saying the Climate and Nature Security Taskforce will help ensure the UK is better prepared for threats from the climate crisis, including those posed by El Niño. The WMO has cautioned that the system will bring above‑normal temperatures worldwide and will increase the risk of drought in some regions and excessive rainfall in others.
Global context and prior impacts
El Niño is a recurring Pacific climate pattern that, when amplified by human‑driven warming, can intensify extremes. The most recent “super” El Niño in 2015 coincided with severe droughts that harmed crops in parts of the world. Since 2015, the planet has recorded its 11 warmest years on record, underlining how background warming can exacerbate the effects of natural cycles.
WMO secretary‑general Celeste Saulo urged governments and communities to use the window of time before the worst impacts materialise to anticipate and plan.
“A window of opportunity to anticipate risks and act before impacts unfold.”
- Potential impacts include disrupted global food supplies, crop failures and rising food prices.
- Extreme heat and drought in some regions, with heavy rainfall and flooding in others.
- Economic consequences could be large, with previous events wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars globally.
Hinchliff emphasised that even smaller El Niño events have previously caused “enormous supply chain impacts” and inflationary pressure on food, underscoring the need for pre‑emptive action by government bodies responsible for national security, resilience and trade.
Policy implications for the UK
The MP’s letter asks for the Prime Minister to bring political focus to the issue by chairing the newly formed taskforce, which the government says exists to strengthen preparedness for climate‑related threats. The request reflects concern that international climate variability can have immediate domestic repercussions through higher food prices and stresses on critical services.
With the WMO signalling an intensification of El Niño through the late Northern Hemisphere summer and autumn, UK ministers will face pressure to outline concrete steps for national resilience: from stockpiling and trade contingency planning to supporting farmers and supply chains that could be exposed to shocks overseas.
| Indicator | Current status |
|---|---|
| WMO forecast | El Niño expected to strengthen during August–October |
| Recent climate context | Since 2015, world has experienced its 11 warmest years |
The coming weeks will be critical for ministers and agencies assessing how to translate the taskforce’s strategic remit into operational measures that protect food security and economic stability in the UK and help vulnerable international partners weather the impact.
