A minister from the Andy Burnham-led government has advised UK households to prepare for potential disruptions caused by what experts have called a ‘supersize’ El Niño event. Angela Eagle, the Labour Party’s Environment Secretary, has urged citizens to enhance their resilience by ensuring they have several days’ worth of food and water supplies at home.
Speaking to the Guardian, Ms Eagle warned that this upcoming El Niño is likely to be one of the largest ever recorded. She explained it could result in drier summers and wetter winters for the UK, alongside more extreme storms. “It will cause significant damage in regions such as Asia through flooding,” she said, “so it is crucial that we take the threat seriously.”
Ms Eagle emphasised the importance of being prepared for emergencies, suggesting that having a personal store of food could be vital while waiting for emergency services to respond. “Having some provisions to rely on for a few days can make a substantial difference,” she advised.
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This guidance follows dire warnings from international authorities about the escalating intensity of El Niño. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described the phenomenon as “being supersized before our eyes,” highlighting the urgent need for climate action. “The planet is in uncharted waters, heating up rapidly, and facing the danger zone of extreme weather,” he said.
Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO), underscored the global risks posed by El Niño, citing ongoing droughts and floods and predicting further disruptions. The WMO has initiated a major mobilisation of national meteorological and hydrological services to provide vital forecasts aimed at saving lives and livelihoods.
Domestically, experts warn that extreme weather patterns are already impacting food security. Chris Jaccarini of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit highlighted how increased food prices disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations, due to both imported and locally grown supplies.
British farmers are confronting significant challenges; following five heatwaves and widespread drought, the 2026 harvest is anticipated to be one of the worst on record. Jaccarini cautioned that without decisive emissions reduction and enhanced resilience measures, such climate impacts-and the intensifying effect of recurrent El Niño events-will continue to worsen.
The government’s call for household preparedness aims to mitigate these challenges and help communities better withstand the effects of this unprecedented climatic event.