BANGKOK, May 6 — Already reeling from the effects of conflict in the Middle East, Asia is now facing the prospect of strong El Nino conditions that could spike energy demand, sap hydropower, and damage crops.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure, and rainfall patterns.

Last week, the United Nations’ weather and climate agency said El Nino conditions could develop as soon as May to July.

The World Meteorological Organization, meanwhile, said early signs indicated the event could be particularly strong, with some dubbing the impending event a “super El Nino”, although the term is not used by scientists.

That is not good news for Asia, parts of which are traditionally heavily affected by the heatwaves, drought and heavy rains that El Nino can bring.

The phenomenon essentially shifts traditional weather patterns around, for example moving rain that normally falls over Indonesia out to sea, leaving the country vulnerable to drought and wildfires.

El Nino occurs around every two to seven years and is forecast based on sea temperatures.

“The subsurface anomaly that we’re seeing so far is pretty strong,” said Peter van Rensch, a climate scientist at Australia’s Monash University.

“It does look a little bit like what we saw in the 1997/98 event, and that was probably the strongest El Nino,” he told AFP.

There are still plenty of uncertainties, and van Rensch cautioned it was possible an El Nino might not develop at all.

Catastrophic impacts

But the 1997 El Nino brought catastrophic impacts, including extreme drought and devastating wildfires in Indonesia that burned through millions of hectares and created regional air pollution.

Authorities there have already identified peatlands at risk, and warned the country could see its lowest rainfall in 30 years.

The warnings come with Asia buckling under the strain of an energy supply crunch and fears over shortages of fertiliser and other industrial and agricultural components which pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has effectively closed the strategic waterway since the United States and Israel launched attacks on the country on February 28, disrupting global fuel supplies.

Hotter weather will strain energy grids already experiencing fuel shortages, as populations seek to cool homes and workplaces, warned Haneea Isaad, energy finance specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

“For countries that are highly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas deliveries and other trade, strained supply will lead to further fuel rationing, demand-side management and a reduction in economic activities... impacting overall GDP growth,” she told AFP.

The droughts that El Nino can bring to parts of the region also pose a threat to countries that are highly dependent on hydropower, said Dinita Setyawati, senior energy analyst for Asia at the Ember thinktank.

“Most Asean countries use a lot of hydropower,” she warned, highlighting Mekong countries, Nepal, and parts of Malaysia as particularly vulnerable because of their dependence on the sector.

The risks were laid bare in 2022, when a heatwave in China saw hydropower generation in Sichuan fall over 50 per cent, creating shortages that impacted households and industry alike.

Agriculture risks

Hotter, drier conditions will also create fresh risks for agriculture, already under pressure as the ongoing conflict raises the costs of fertiliser and fuel needed for farming equipment.

“If crop prices do not rise enough to offset these higher input and shipping costs, producer margins will be squeezed, raising the likelihood of lower fertiliser application and weaker yields,” warned BMI, a unit of the Fitch Solutions research company.

“This would intensify food price inflation and worsen food insecurity, especially in import-dependent and climate-vulnerable markets.”

For some parts of Asia, an El Nino can bring bouts of intense rain and provoke flooding, which could impact sectors like southern China’s late-season rice harvest, added Isaad.

How climate change affects the emergence and strength of El Ninos is still not well understood.

But research shows climate change itself will bring more frequent intense heatwaves, as well as sudden heavy rainfall that can cause flooding.

So experts said countries across the region should further insulate energy systems against more frequent disruptive weather events by diversifying and greening their grids.

“Solar and wind, coupled with batteries, provide a more resilient infrastructure than a centralised fossil infrastructure,” said Setyawati. — AFP

PONTIAN – Sebuah Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) dibuka di Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Melayu Raya bagi menempatkan mangsa ribut di Kampung Melayu Raya, di sini, petang semalam.

Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Daerah (JPBD) Pontian memaklumkan, PPS berkenaan mula beroperasi pada pukul 6 petang dengan menempatkan 23  keluarga membabitkan 77 mangsa.

Menurut kenyataan itu, kejadian ribut berkenaan menyebabkan 23 rumah sewa, lima rumah persendirian serta sebuah pusat tahfiz mengalami kerosakan.

Terdahulu, Kosmo! melaporkan sebanyak 28 rumah mengalami kerosakan teruk selepas dilanda ribut di Jalan Rezab 1, Kampung Melayu Raya, Pekan Nanas kira-kira pukul 3 petang semalam.

Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Tanjung Piai, Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng bersama Tan Eng Meng turut turun padang menyantuni mangsa di PPS selain menyampaikan sumbangan wang tunai.

Sebanyak tujuh kelas digunakan untuk menempatkan mangsa, namun sesi persekolahan di SK Melayu Raya tetap berjalan seperti biasa dengan pelaksanaan Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran (PdP) di bilik khas. – KOSMO! ONLINE

LIPIS, May 4 — The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) is conducting a study on the development of tube wells as a preparatory measure to address potential water crisis in the future.

PETRA deputy minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the study, carried out by the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), aims to identify new water sources as a support plan in the event of supply disruptions.

“We are currently facing uncertain weather conditions such as drought and low rainfall. Based on forecasts, the hot weather is expected to continue until August, which could affect water resources.

“Nevertheless, through the efforts of all relevant agencies, water supply nationwide remains under control. However, consumers must play an important role in reducing wastage,” he said.

He said this to reporters after officiating the Selamat Air Raya programme at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Ahmad Shah here today.

On March 21, it was reported that the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) had warned that the world is entering an era of ‘global water bankruptcy’.

Abdul Rahman said water consumption in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan is higher at around 223 litres per capita per day compared with the 165 litres per capita per day recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“This high level of water usage must be reduced. If the public does not play its part, we risk facing a water crisis. All parties must take responsibility to ensure this can be avoided,” he said.

He added that the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) is also implementing the Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) Programme, targeting to reach at least one million users nationwide throughout 2026.

“This initiative aims to raise public awareness on efficient water usage and the importance of avoiding wastage to ensure the sustainability of the nation’s water supply,” he said.

At the programme, SPAN also distributed zakat wakalah totalling RM104,000 to 200 students from primary, secondary schools and higher education institutions. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA, 4 Mei: Kerajaan kini di fasa akhir memuktamadkan Rang Undang-Undang Perubahan Iklim Negara (RUU PIN) dan RUU Pihak Berkuasa Perubahan Iklim Negara (IKLIM) yang dijangka dibentangkan di Parlimen pada Julai ini.

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup berkata kedua-dua RUU itu sebagai langkah memperkukuh kerangka perundangan negara dalam mendepani krisis iklim global.

“Ini merupakan langkah kritikal bagi memastikan negara mempunyai kerangka perundangan yang kukuh dalam mendepani krisis iklim global.

“Kita mahu memastikan generasi akan datang mewarisi sebuah negara yang mampan dan berdaya tahan,” katanya ketika menyampaikan amanat pada perhimpunan bulanan Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam (NRES) di sini hari ini.

RUU PIN akan memperkenalkan sistem pemantauan, pelaporan dan verifikasi (MRV) sebagai asas utama pelaksanaan mekanisme harga karbon dan peralihan Malaysia ke arah ekonomi rendah karbon.

Sistem MRV itu mempunyai metodologi pengiraan pelepasan gas rumah kaca (GHG) yang seragam merentas sektor ekonomi bagi memastikan ketelusan serta keabsahan data serta pembentukan registri karbon kebangsaan yang berintegriti.

Penggubalan RUU PIN juga membolehkan pelaksanaan harga karbon secara berfasa dan berstruktur sebelum instrumen lain seperti cukai karbon dan mekanisme pasaran karbon diperkenalkan.

Sementara itu, Arthur berkata NRES turut komited menunaikan amanah Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (MA63) dengan memperkukuh hak Sabah dan Sarawak, termasuk memuktamadkan pindaan akta bagi membolehkan kedua-dua negeri mengurus sendiri sisa buangan terjadual.

“Proses pemulangan tanah Persekutuan kepada kerajaan Sabah dan Sarawak turut dimuktamadkan untuk dimanfaatkan bagi projek komuniti setempat,” katanya, sambil menegaskan langkah itu mencerminkan komitmen terhadap pembangunan inklusif serta penghormatan hak wilayah.

Mengulas mengenai keutamaan NRES, beliau berkata pengukuhan Jabatan Alam Sekitar adalah antara yang akan diberi perhatian memandangkan kapasiti semasa hanya melibatkan 1,041 anggota penguatkuasaan di seluruh negara.

Katanya cadangan penubuhan cawangan tetap di Pelabuhan Klang sedang diteliti sebagai langkah strategik memperkukuh keselamatan sempadan dan kesihatan awam.

Selain itu, beliau berkata kerajaan akan menambah baik sistem penyampaian maklumat cuaca dan kualiti udara melalui pembangunan inisiatif Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CIMEQ) bagi meningkatkan keupayaan analisis serta ramalan pencemaran dan jerebu rentas sempadan.

“Pada masa sama, penglibatan Malaysia dalam inisiatif Early Warnings for All menyasarkan perlindungan menyeluruh kepada rakyat daripada risiko bencana menjelang 2027,” katanya.-TVS