"What's coming is very delicate": Severe changes in climate and temperatures are anticipated in El Salvador with the arrival of the Super Niño phenomenon.

The El Niño phenomenon threatens food security, health, and the economy of El Salvador, according to experts. (Photo courtesy MARN)The impending arrival of the El Niño phenomenon and the possibility of a Super Niño in 2026 in Central America have raised alarms among specialists and social organizations. Rubén Quintanilla, from the Permanent Risk Management Table, warned about the impact that these climate events will have on food security, health, and the country's economy. He highlighted that the phenomenon is already being felt in El Salvador, with record temperatures and scarce rainfall, and warned that the effects of the Super Niño could be even more severe. In an interview with YSUCA radio, Quintanilla detailed that the region faces a structural vulnerability, exacerbated by social inequality and the lack of state preparedness for extreme climate scenarios. He emphasized the urgency of comprehensive and preventive actions, in contrast to the traditional late reaction to disasters. The specialist stressed that the risk of disaster and social inequality are interconnected phenomena and called for attention to the human causes that amplify the effects of climate change, such as deforestation and the lack of regulation in housing projects. Rubén Quintanilla explained that the El Niño phenomenon is a natural cycle characterized by an unusual increase in temperature in various parts of the planet, especially in the Pacific Ocean. This climate change alters weather patterns and causes a shortage of rainfall, a phenomenon already visible in El Salvador, where the rainy season has been delayed. "We are already experiencing the El Niño phenomenon, which is characterized by increased temperatures, little rainfall, and, of course, all the consequences that come with it," he said. Experts warn that the Super Niño expected for 2026 could intensify droughts and heat waves in Central America. (Illustrative Image Infobae)He distinguished El Niño from the La Niña phenomenon, which, conversely, generates an abundance of humidity and intense rainfall. However, what distinguishes the current episode is the expectation of a more intense event, known as Super Niño. According to Quintanilla, forecasts from international organizations warn of consequences that are more severe than in the past, due to the increased vulnerability of the population. He explained that the lack of preparedness and the impact of climate change have made the region more susceptible to extreme weather events. He also pointed out that the effects of El Niño and Super Niño are not solely due to natural causes. He denounced deforestation, the loss of vegetation, and the permissiveness in housing projects without environmental impact studies as factors that exacerbate the crisis. He criticized that many times "you pay for your permit and build," without real controls to protect natural resources. He also added the intensive use of fossil fuels and the lack of coherent environmental policies. He recalled that El Salvador has expressed skepticism about the 2030 Agenda and international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, which, in his opinion, demonstrates a lack of official interest in the structural causes of climate change: "There is a 2030 agenda where one of the topics has to do with this... but those who have it in their hands do not pay attention to it, because it has to do with another interest, an economic interest." Finally, Quintanilla explained that the Permanent Risk Management Table participates in regional and global networks such as the Regional Concertation for Risk Management and the Global Network for Disaster Reduction (GNDR). Through these spaces, they receive information, prepare reports, and seek to influence public policies at both the national and international levels. The specialist valued the reports from the Ministry of Environment but insisted that monitoring must be translated into concrete actions: "In the face of that, what are we doing? We, as the Permanent Table, put all our resources into making sure we sit down. I believe that this is the moment to stop and take into account the need that our life has at the global and national levels."