Act now against El Niño or costs will double, UNDP warns
Acting now to counter the devastating effects of the El Niño phenomenon will cost half as much as waiting, the head of the U.N. Development Programme told AFP Friday.
The U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) warns that delaying action against the El Niño phenomenon could double the costs, according to its head Alexander De Croo. Speaking at the UN climate conference in Antalya, De Croo stated that $36 billion would be required to counter the effects of El Niño if preventive measures are taken now, while waiting would result in a cost of $73 billion.
He emphasized that failing to act is the most expensive climate policy a nation could adopt and urged major players such as the International Monetary Fund to provide financial support to developing countries most vulnerable to El Niño's effects. Developing nations seek greater financial assistance due to their historical responsibility for global warming, despite the financial struggles of many rich countries grappling with debt and war costs.
De Croo acknowledged the challenges but argued that investing in climate security also helps address other forms of insecurity. The UNDP aims to provide financial aid to the developing countries worst hit by El Niño and works with 47 countries to increase trust in investment opportunities. A UNDP report estimates the current El Niño cycle could cost $10 billion to $20 billion in African countries, with additional economic losses of at least 2% over three years, pushing more people into poverty.
De Croo stressed that it is not too late to act and that early investment to limit El Niño impacts—costing $36 billion—could save lives, crops, and infrastructure, while the cost of inaction would be significantly higher.
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