El Niño and Climate Change: Understanding Colombia's Intensifying Drought Challenges

El Niño events are a series of complex weather patterns in the Pacific ocean between Oceania and South America that result in irregular meteorological phenomena. Although El Niño events recur, they do not follow a specific cycle. These events lead to increased humidity, a higher frequency of intense hurricanes, and disrupted precipitation patterns. Due to its proximity to South America, the effects of El Niño are strongly felt in many South American countries, including Colombia. In particular, El Niño has contributed to persistent droughts across Colombia.

Colombia, located in northwestern South America, is highly susceptible to El Niño’s impacts. The droughts in Colombia result from the dry air associated with El Niño events, which can disrupt normal precipitation patterns. As rainfall cycles in South America are disturbed, Colombia has seen significant reductions in rainfall, intensifying drought conditions. Although El Niño events are natural meteorological phenomena, scientists suggest that climate change and human activities, like deforestation in the Amazon, soil degradation, and air pollution, have exacerbated these droughts by altering water and precipitation dynamics across the region.

These droughts have significant consequences for Colombia’s population, infrastructure, and economy. In response to the drought, Colombians have implemented various water-saving measures, such as taking shorter showers and rationing drinking water. Authorities also fine individuals for wasteful public water use, like washing cars on the streets. Additionally, over 70% of Colombia’s electricity comes from hydroelectric plants. While green energy is beneficial, depending so heavily on water-based power generation during droughts has led to frequent power shortages, as water supplies become too scarce to sustain electricity production. Finally, as a developing economy, Colombia lacks the same resources and infrastructure that wealthier nations might deploy to counter drought impacts. This limitation makes managing water scarcity even more challenging.

The droughts’ effects go beyond water shortages and power cuts. The dry air has fueled uncontrolled forest fires, resulting in land and habitat loss, as well as severe air pollution that harms public health. The drought has also forced many small businesses to close, including coffee shops and restaurants that rely on water to operate. As small businesses represent 80% of all employment in Colombia, their closure is a blow to the economy, affecting countless people.

While the current droughts are primarily driven by El Niño, evidence suggests that human activity has intensified these natural patterns since the 1970s, worsening their effects. Without human interference, South American countries might still experience droughts and hurricanes from El Niño, but likely not to the same extreme levels seen today.