South Africa Braces for Supercharged El Niño Effects
South Africa's chief negotiator warned of severe El Niño impacts ahead of COP31 talks in Antalya, Turkey.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Severe Weather
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South Africa's chief negotiator Maesela Kekana warned of a supercharged El Niño at COP31, as the country braces for flooding, fires and heatwaves linked to the weather pattern. Adaptation, mitigation and climate finance are the country's top priorities for the talks.
Why it matters
El Niño-linked flooding and heatwaves are already being observed, and environmental authorities warn the worst is yet to come. Climate finance remains a contentious issue for developing nations seeking support to adapt and recover.
Ocean temperatures have risen by three degrees, according to the negotiator, though the source does not give a baseline period for this figure. The scale of expected fires and heatwave severity has not yet been quantified.
The players
Maesela Kekana
Kekana is South Africa's chief negotiator at international climate talks, representing the country's position on adaptation, mitigation and climate finance.
The details
Speaking ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, South Africa's chief negotiator Maesela Kekana warned of a supercharged El Niño. Flooding has already occurred, heatwaves have been observed, and fires are likely, with KwaZulu-Natal flagged as prone to natural disasters.
Timeline
12 November 2026: Warnings on COP31 climate negotiations and El Niño impacts were published.
COP31 takes place in Antalya, Turkey.
Seasonal Patterns
South Africa's warnings are framed within the annual UN COP negotiations, where developing nations have repeatedly pressed developed countries to honour climate finance commitments. The El Niño warning links national disaster exposure directly to that long-running funding dispute.
Residents in flood-prone and disaster-exposed provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal should monitor official weather warnings and prepare for possible flooding and heat. Households should keep emergency supplies and follow guidance from local disaster authorities.
The takeaway
Adaptation, mitigation and climate finance are now tightly linked for countries exposed to climate shocks. Households in vulnerable provinces benefit most from acting on official early warnings before conditions worsen.
What happens next
COP31 negotiations are scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey, where South Africa's climate finance and adaptation priorities will be tabled.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Severe Weather reporting across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ENCAnews.
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