How Bad Will this El Niño Be? Worse Than You May Think

Nov 20, 2015 | Marc Levy
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This week the Earth Institute’s International Research Institute on Climate and Society convened a 2-day workshop reflecting on efforts over the past 20 years to improve responses to climate variability, especially risks associated with El Niño.  Concerns that the current El Niño has the potential to exceed in severity the devastating El Niño of 1997-1998 permeated the discussion.  At the conference I presented a brief overview of the social, economic and political changes that will have a large effect on human impacts from El Niño.  I amplify those remarks here.  For more information, thoughts and opportunities to engage on questions of how climate, fragility and risk interact, check the Environment, Peace and Security Certificate Program website.