El Niño, the climate force that warms up the Pacific and disrupts weather across the world, is back. Scientists fear it will contribute to 2024 being the hottest year in recorded history. For India, which is reeling under massive heat waves, it’s particularly worrisome. 60% of the country’s droughts in 130 years have coincided with El Nino events. The jury is out on how severe the imminent bout will be. But El Nino can disrupt rains; which has knock-on effects on food prices, consumption, markets, and public health. How worried should you be? And as the world heats up and climate shocks become more frequent, how long before India becomes truly climate-proof?

Host Anirban Chowdhury speaks to:
- Dr. Kim Cobb, an American climate scientist and Professor at Brown University on how El Nino has evolved over the years and its links with industrialization

- Kamiar Mohaddes, Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Cambridge about how El Nino impacts some countries negatively, and benefits others.

- Saransh Bajpai, Associate Director - Climate Program at WRI India on the impact of such events in India and how states are coping.

- Saugata Bhattacharya - Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Axis Bank on El Niño’s cascading impact on various sectors of the Indian economy

- Pankaj Pandey, Head Research at ICICI Securities on which stocks are vulnerable to El Nino and which do well on such occurrences.

Credits: CNBC, MoneyControl, WION, Julien Miquel, Emma Saying, National Geographic, BQ Prime, Fox 11, Seeker, NDTV, NDTV 2, WION 2 and The El Nino Song

If you like this episode from Anirban Chowdhury, check out his other interesting episodes on Will music streaming platforms survive in India?, Lufthansa CEO on its turnaround, India and Air India, Can Air India be an Emirates? and much more!

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El Niño: Little Boy, Big Trouble

The Morning Brief

El Niño: Little Boy, Big Trouble