Colombia faces 'meganiño' in December, Petro warns, urges preparation

Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a stark warning about a severe "meganiño" climate event expected in December. He urged the incoming administration to proactively prepare mitigation measures, particularly concerning water availability, food production, and the national energy grid. Petro stated there is a near 100% probability of this phenomenon occurring after he leaves office on August 7, emphasizing that the exact magnitude remains unpredictable due to the broader climate crisis. "What we know is that there will be a meganiño, almost 100% probability, and it is in the month of December. It will not be me who is president," Petro declared. He cautioned that the "meganiño" could severely impact water resources for agriculture and human consumption, potentially leading to a food crisis. "The meganiño will obviously deplete our water for agriculture, for human consumption, and for food. That is to say, if we do not prepare, the first consequence will be hunger," he warned, adding that electricity supply could also be reduced. Petro advocated for accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources, especially solar power, rather than expanding gas usage, although he acknowledged the need for some gas imports. He defended his government's energy management, noting that blackouts were avoided due to a 74.1% share of clean energy in the electricity matrix, boosted by 4.6 gigawatts of installed capacity, primarily from solar projects. In his final days, Petro plans to implement measures to prepare the country, including doubling solar generation capacity, protecting water sources, installing more desalination plants, expanding irrigation districts, subsidizing fertilizers, and strengthening land reform and farmer support.

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Lo que sabemos es que va a haber un meganiño, 100 % casi de probabilidad, y es en el mes de diciembre. No seré yo el presidente