Since the last conference in 2018 the planet experienced a triple La Niña episode between September 2020 and February 2023, the first recorded in the 12th century. Then, between February and March 2023 a significant increase in Sea Surface Temperature was observed in the Eastern Pacific, especially in the coastal region of South America, which almost immediately increased rainfall that significantly impacted the coastal regions of Ecuador and Peru. As of June 2023, this warming also extended to the Central Pacific region and different climate institutions declared the El Niño 2023-2024 phenomenon.

Unlike previous historical events, this last one also saw a simultaneous warming of all oceanic regions of the planet, which leads us to a relatively unknown scenario in terms of the impacts it may generate. Furthermore, the year 2023 has been the warmest since records have been kept, with the months of June, July, August and September breaking monthly temperature records.

Some of the significant impacts already observed associated with El Niño 2023-2024 have been droughts in Panama and the Amazon, which have generated problems in local and international trade, as well as serious social and ecosystemic problems. On the other hand, heavy rains have also been observed in central Chile and southern Brazil, which culminated in environmental disasters, even leading to loss of life. This is just to mention a few examples.

The United Nations in resolution 78/152 of the 78th General Assembly, which dealt with disaster risk reduction, has expressed its concern about the development of the El Niño of 2023-2024 that has generated profound impacts on the environment, economy and society around the planet, especially in developing countries. In this regard, they reiterated the importance of creating and/or strengthening mechanisms to be prepared to face climate threats, including El Niño Southern Oscillation. Among the main recommendations, they urged the strengthening of international cooperation for the development of risk-informed strategies, including early warning systems, risk transfer financial tools and forecast-based financing, to minimize damages and ensure timely response to affected populations and to build resilience and prepare for future events.

In this sense, it is proposed to develop the V International ENSO Conference to be held in Guayaquil, in September 2024 and in this opportunity, in addition to the science of El Niño Southern Oscillation, it is also proposed to integrate the key actors in risk management. This unprecedented approach seeks to reduce the barrier between science and decision making for disaster prevention.