La Niña phenomenon 2025.. What does the United Nations say about its return and its impact on the global climate?

La Nina phenomenon 2025.. What does the United Nations say about its return and its impact on the global climate?

Between ocean fluctuations and atmospheric turbulence, the phenomenon of “La Niña” appears again to dominate the headlines of global climate bulletins, with the United Nations warning of its possible return in September 2025. This natural phenomenon – which is linked to a widespread decrease in surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean – does not occur alone, but is accompanied by noticeable changes in winds, atmospheric pressure and rainfall patterns.

Although “La Nina” is the opposite side of the “El Niño” phenomenon, its return this year acquires a different dimension. It falls within a global context that is witnessing a record rise in temperatures as a result of climate change, soThe Earth Guards Foundation In this article, it will address the dimensions of this phenomenon, its repercussions on the global climate, and its direct relationship to the future of sustainable development.

The concept of the La Niña phenomenon

To understand the danger of “La Nina” and its impact, we must first look at its scientific definition. The United Nations indicates that this phenomenon represents a large-scale periodic cooling of the water surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, and the matter is not limited to water only, but is also linked to changes in the tropical air circulation, which includes winds, atmospheric pressure patterns, and rain levels.

In physical terms, it can be said that “La Niña” represents the other side of the “El Niño” phenomenon known for heating the ocean waters, and if “El Niño” often leads to drought in some regions and heavy rains in others, then “La Niña” is counterproductive, especially in the tropics. These climate balances or contradictions lead scientists to consider both phenomena as part of a natural climate cycle, but today they occur in a completely different context due to climate change resulting from human activity.

It is worth noting that these natural changes, which have been occurring for centuries, are no longer innocent or neutral in their impact; The world today lives under a continuous rise in average temperatures. Which makes “La Nina” a new link in a complex chain of climate interactions, which exacerbate natural disasters and directly affect human development.

Probabilities of La Nina’s return

According to the “Info-Niño/Niña” bulletin issued by the World Meteorological Organization, neutral climatic conditions – which did not bear any of the characteristics of “El Niño” or “La Nina” – have continued since March 2025. However, the organization’s forecasts indicate that these conditions will not last long; Surface waters in the Pacific Ocean are likely to begin to gradually decline over the coming months; Which opens the door for the emergence of “La Nina” again.

The numerical forecasts presented by the organization do not provide much reassurance; It indicated that the probability of La Nina appearing during the period between September and November is 55%, while the percentage rises to 60% during the period from October to December 2025. These percentages – even if they seem average – are sufficient to raise early warnings, especially since the phenomenon is known for its wide effects on global climate patterns.

On the other hand, some scientists are still reticent to confirm these expectations. The oceanographer and climate specialist at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) – Eric Gilardi – indicated that the possibility of the appearance of “La Nina” remains weak so far, and that determining this requires further monitoring and study in the coming weeks. This scientific reservation reflects the nature of the phenomenon itself, which may develop quickly or fade away according to multiple factors.

What is noteworthy is that these forecasts – although they warn of the return of “La Nina” – do not deny that global temperatures will remain higher than normal. In other words, even if relative cooling in the Pacific Ocean returns, the planet will remain a prisoner of global warming, in a complex equation that does not give the world any respite from climate pressures.

Climatic impacts

La Nina is usually associated with wide changes in rainfall and temperature patterns around the world. While it can bring heavy rains to some tropical regions, it may cause severe drought in other regions. This disparity in impact makes it a double-faced phenomenon, and it carries with it opportunities and risks at the same time.

It is expected that most regions of the Northern Hemisphere will witness temperatures above normal during next fall, as is the case in large parts of the Southern Hemisphere. As for rain patterns, they will be closer to what is usual during “La Nina” periods of moderate strength. That is, it may enhance rainfall in certain areas while at the same time reducing it in other areas.

These climate changes are not just numbers in scientific reports, but rather have direct repercussions on food security, public health, and economic stability. In areas that depend on rain-fed agriculture, any disruption in these rain patterns could threaten crops and lead to fluctuations in food prices. As for other regions that may face drought, the risks extend to water scarcity, and the high probability of conflicts related to natural resources.

La Nina in times of climate change

If La Nina had occurred in a climatically stable world, its effects might have remained within limits that could be adapted to, but the biggest problem is that it comes today within a global context characterized by a continuous rise in temperatures, the melting of ice, and changing seasonal patterns. This makes every natural phenomenon – no matter how conventional it may seem – a multiplying factor in climate crises.

The World Meteorological Organization confirms that these natural phenomena, whether “El Niño” or “La Nina”, are no longer viewed in isolation from climate change caused by human activity. The rise in global temperatures changes the nature of these phenomena and increases the severity of their impact. This means that societies – especially fragile ones – will be more at risk if the phenomenon is repeated.

Here the biggest challenge facing the world emerges: How can countries prepare for a phenomenon such as “La Nina” while at the same time facing the repercussions of comprehensive climate change? The answer lies in strengthening early warning systems, developing flexible agricultural and water policies, and investing in infrastructure capable of withstanding climate shocks.

La Nina and Sustainability

From another angle, it cannot be ignored that the “La Nina” phenomenon provides an opportunity to think deeply about our relationship with the environment and the importance of adhering to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). If the thirteenth goal of these goals focuses on climate action, then preparing for phenomena such as “La Nina” goes directly to the heart of this goal.

Sustainability here does not only mean adapting to climate change, but it also means reducing its causes by reducing carbon emissions and enhancing reliance on renewable energy. It also requires countries to cooperate on a global level; Because climate knows no political borders, and its effects affect everyone without exception.

The “La Nina” phenomenon in this sense is not just a passing climatic event, but rather an alarm bell calling on societies to review their policies, think about how to make their agricultural and water systems more resilient, and ensure that economic development is balanced with environmental protection.

andWhile the world awaits whether La Nina will actually return in the coming months or not, it remains certain that the phenomenon – even if it does not happen – has once again opened the door to discussion about the fragility of the global climate system in the face of the pressures of human warming, and it reminds us that the Earth is an interconnected system, and that any change in the oceans quickly affects the land and the lives of billions of people.

In the end, La Nina appears to be more than just a natural phenomenon; It is a mirror that reflects to us the magnitude of the challenges posed by climate change, and calls on us to take more serious steps towards a sustainable future. The climate – as we have learned from these phenomena – is not an abstract scientific matter, but rather an existential issue related to our ability to survive.

Hence,The Earth Guards Foundationconfirms that dealing with the “La Nina” phenomenon and its sister climate phenomena must be part of a global project that places sustainability at the heart of development, and makes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a roadmap for saving the planet.