Super El Niño Could Increase India's Carbon Emissions by 17 Million Tons
Super El Niño Could Increase India's Carbon Emissions by 17 Million Tons
IN · Published Nov 5, 2026
• India faces significant challenges from the anticipated Super El Niño event, which could disrupt hydropower and wind generation while intensifying heatwaves and electricity demand.
• The phenomenon may also lead to extreme rainfall and flash floods, affecting mining operations critical to clean energy infrastructure.

Impact & Risks

The Super El Niño event could weaken hydropower and wind generation, forcing India to rely more on coal-fired power plants to meet increased cooling demands during heatwaves. This reliance may lead to a temporary spike in carbon emissions, complicating India's decarbonisation goals. Additionally, extreme rainfall and flooding could disrupt mining operations for copper and nickel, essential for renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and battery storage systems. These disruptions may increase costs and delay clean energy projects, impacting India's energy transition and climate goals.

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