The intensifying El Niño is expected to exacerbate heat waves, droughts, and marine heat waves globally. Vulnerable populations, particularly in South Asia, Gulf nations, and Africa, face heightened risks due to limited access to cooling and high poverty levels. Older individuals are especially susceptible to heat-related health issues, with studies estimating that 22% of people over 60 are exposed to unsafe temperatures for at least one month annually. In Europe, excess deaths from heat waves have already exceeded 25,000 this summer. In the U.S., the Southwest continues to grapple with severe drought conditions, threatening water resources in Lake Mead and Lake Powell. (Source: Hansen et al., 2026)