{"id":2140250,"date":"2026-09-11T05:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T02:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2140250"},"modified":"2026-09-11T05:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T02:02:01","slug":"from-galapagos-penguins-to-giant-daisy-trees-powerful-el-nino-could-decimate-rare-wildlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2140250","title":{"rendered":"From Gal\u00e1pagos penguins to giant daisy trees: Powerful El Ni\u00f1o could decimate rare wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/81\/48\/1200x675_cmsv2_be20db15-9892-50df-85ae-bf1a05a47e61-9908148.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2924720-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924720\" data-cid=\"9909004\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924720-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" 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healthcare slogan, Solna, Sweden (9 September, 2026)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Healthcare<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Healthcare is driving Sweden&#8217;s election: Big promises, few easy fixes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924121-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924121\" data-cid=\"9906031\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924121-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/60\/31\/189x106_cmsv2_dc74368d-8e4a-53f5-8649-504bdbc3b719-9906031.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, second right, visits Yara Sluiskil, 7 September 2026\" 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News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    OpenAI makes U-turn and calls for binding national AI safety rules\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924890-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2924890\" data-cid=\"9909890\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924890-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/98\/90\/189x106_cmsv2_9ab97083-1fc9-5ed3-946d-894011502ebf-9909890.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"AlUla has emerged as a popular destination for leisure travel in Saudi Arabia \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    European leisure travel to Saudi Arabia forecast to grow 130% by 2030\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Earth<\/p>\n<p>                          Climate<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            From Gal\u00e1pagos penguins to giant daisy trees: Powerful El Ni\u00f1o could decimate rare wildlife <\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/81\/48\/1536x864_cmsv2_be20db15-9892-50df-85ae-bf1a05a47e61-9908148.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"An endangered Galapagos penguin swims around Bartolome Island, Ecuador in the Galapagos on Friday, June 7, 2024.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              An endangered Galapagos penguin swims around Bartolome Island, Ecuador in the Galapagos on Friday, June 7, 2024.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo\/Alie Skowronski<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\/Alie Skowronski\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspAngela Symons&amp;nbspwith&amp;nbsp<b>AP<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1789102921\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-11 07:02:01 +02:00\">11\/09\/2026 &#8211; 7:02 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div 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height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        After the powerful 1998 El Ni\u00f1o, only 400 of the 1,300 existing Gal\u00e1pagos penguins remained.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--earth js-article-content\">\n<p>The prediction that this season\u2019s <strong>El Ni\u00f1o phenomenon<\/strong> will be stronger than normal has alarmed the Ecuadorian scientific community, which has warned of its impact on the flora and fauna of the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Home to the highest concentration of <strong>species<\/strong> not found elsewhere on Earth, the archipelago is made up of more than 230 islands, of which only four are inhabited. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador.<\/p>\n<p>The climatic phenomenon occurs periodically and in the equatorial Pacific is characterised by an increase in <strong>sea temperature<\/strong> and intense rainfall. Its strength is determined by measuring the water temperature in that area and comparing it to the normal average. If it is 2 degrees Celsius above normal, it is considered \u201cvery strong\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The sea temperature will be about 2.2\u00b0C above normal, according to the latest projection from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which means that \u201cthe <strong>impact<\/strong> will be significant\u201d, says Franklin Ormaza, a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Maritime Engineering and Marine Sciences of the Higher Polytechnic School of the Coast (ESPOL).<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-1\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">\u2018Summer has shaken us\u2019: Nepal\u2019s flood disaster hits close to home in the shadow of melting Mont Blanc<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">\u2019I\u2019m in survival mode\u2019: Farmers turn to new crops for earnings in the face of repeated droughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Will El Ni\u00f1o put Gal\u00e1pagos wildlife at risk?<\/h2>\n<p>Animals and fish will be at risk because as the <strong>water temperature<\/strong> rises, \u201cplankton, algae, and smaller fish species, which are food for larger marine animals, practically disappear,\u201d explains Washington Tapia, director of Biodiversa Ecuador, a conservation organisation in the archipelago.<\/p>\n<p>He specifies that the species most at risk are the iconic <strong>Gal\u00e1pagos penguins<\/strong>, blue-footed boobies, petrels, flightless cormorants, albatrosses, and even sea lions. <strong>Coral colonies<\/strong> could also be seriously affected, as could tuna fishing.<\/p>\n<p>In the absence of food, \u201canimal colonies stop reproducing\u201d, disperse in search of food, and die of starvation in the process, explains scientist Gustavo Jim\u00e9nez, from the Charles Darwin Foundation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/81\/48\/808x539_cmsv2_f403f123-4a50-51f6-8490-4ba22151fd36-9908148.jpg\" alt=\"FILE - Saltwater succulents grow by the water on Bartolome Island, Ecuador in the Galapagos on June 7, 2024. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE &#8211; Saltwater succulents grow by the water on Bartolome Island, Ecuador in the Galapagos on June 7, 2024. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Alie Skowronski, File<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>If the phenomenon occurs with the expected magnitude, the <strong>archipelago<\/strong>\u2019s vertebrate population could decrease by at least 20 per cent this year, Jim\u00e9nez adds.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most closely monitored species in the islands, the Gal\u00e1pagos penguins, serves as a marker of the impact of this climate phenomenon on the archipelago\u2019s fauna.<\/p>\n<p>According to data from the Charles Darwin Foundation, after the 1998 El Ni\u00f1o \u2013 one of the most powerful and destructive cycles \u2013 only 400 of the 1,300 existing Gal\u00e1pagos penguins remained.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\" id=\"abe-article-related-2\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">\u2018Wonderfully Swiss, slightly mad\u2019: This IT guy swims to work while cleaning Z\u00fcrich\u2019s waterways<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Effects of El Ni\u00f1o on Gal\u00e1pagos flora<\/h2>\n<p>If El Ni\u00f1o strikes with the expected force, the last three remaining Scalesia forests \u2013 dominated by 20-metre-tall giant daisy trees \u2013 could be at risk of disappearing, scientist Heinke Jager of the Charles Darwin Foundation says.<\/p>\n<p>Opuntia cacti, which grow along the seashore, would also be threatened.<\/p>\n<p>These plants, found only in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, support various ecosystems of insects, birds and other smaller plants that are part of the archipelago\u2019s unique <strong>biodiversity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Jager explains that \u201cthese species need human support\u201d because the <strong>heavy rains<\/strong> brought by El Ni\u00f1o will cause the territory they occupy to be overrun by invasive plants, such as blackberries, which have shorter reproductive cycles.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, they have organised a plan that includes the eradication of invasive plants, the collection of <strong>seeds<\/strong> and the creation of nurseries to conserve threatened species. The Ecuadorian government, foundations, and nongovernmental organisations working in the archipelago are participating in the program.<\/p>\n<p>The Gal\u00e1pagos Islands were declared a <strong>Natural World Heritage Site<\/strong> in 1978 for their unique animal and plant species, which served as the basis for the English scientist <strong>Charles Darwin<\/strong> to develop his theory of evolution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__container\">\n<article id=\"abe-2924407-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924407\" data-cid=\"9907467\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924407-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/74\/67\/480x270_cmsv2_e4e6872c-5f04-5747-9b6c-a063bf004abc-9907467.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary speaks at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29 Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n            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forest fires could be reduced by climate action<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  wildlife<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Gal\u00e1pagos islands<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  penguin<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Pacific Ocean<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  El Ni\u00f1o<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  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Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Take climate action to win votes, UN executive tells EU politicians<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2924283-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924283\" data-cid=\"9906903\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924283-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/69\/03\/320x180_cmsv2_2e4fe766-aeba-5b05-b1a2-62cde40b60e7-9906903.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tourists on the Mont-Blanc massif mountains from the Aiguille du Midi, in Chamonix, France, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div 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the face of drought<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most 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u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924407-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924407\" data-cid=\"9907467\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924407-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/74\/67\/480x270_cmsv2_e4e6872c-5f04-5747-9b6c-a063bf004abc-9907467.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary speaks at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29 Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Climate<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Take climate action to win votes, UN executive tells EU politicians<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924283-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924283\" data-cid=\"9906903\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924283-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/69\/03\/480x270_cmsv2_2e4fe766-aeba-5b05-b1a2-62cde40b60e7-9906903.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tourists on the Mont-Blanc massif mountains from the Aiguille du Midi, in Chamonix, France, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Climate<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018We weep for our mountain\u2019: Mont Blanc meltdown shakes communities<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924001-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2924001\" data-cid=\"9905336\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924001-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/53\/36\/480x270_cmsv2_834ee363-82c3-5a98-b8c8-ec04fd538bba-9905336.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Smoke rises in the air during a fire in Martignas-sur-Jalles, during wildfires in the area of southwestern France, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Climate<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Toxic air from forest fires could be reduced by climate action<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924407-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924407\" data-cid=\"9907467\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924407-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/74\/67\/320x180_cmsv2_e4e6872c-5f04-5747-9b6c-a063bf004abc-9907467.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary speaks at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29 Baku\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Take climate action to win votes, UN executive tells EU politicians<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924283-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924283\" data-cid=\"9906903\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924283-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/69\/03\/320x180_cmsv2_2e4fe766-aeba-5b05-b1a2-62cde40b60e7-9906903.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tourists on the Mont-Blanc massif mountains from the Aiguille du Midi, in Chamonix, France, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018We weep for our mountain\u2019: Mont Blanc meltdown shakes communities<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924121-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924121\" data-cid=\"9906031\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924121-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/60\/31\/320x180_cmsv2_dc74368d-8e4a-53f5-8649-504bdbc3b719-9906031.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, second right, visits Yara Sluiskil, 7 September 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Is Europe\u2019s largest carbon capture project \u2018a pass to keep polluting\u2019?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924001-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924001\" data-cid=\"9905336\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2924001-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/53\/36\/320x180_cmsv2_834ee363-82c3-5a98-b8c8-ec04fd538bba-9905336.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Smoke rises in the air during a fire in Martignas-sur-Jalles, during wildfires in the area of southwestern France, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Toxic air from forest fires could be reduced by climate action<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923694-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2923694\" data-cid=\"9903940\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2923694-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/39\/40\/320x180_cmsv2_9499eaab-1360-5b48-8f9b-373d30717756-9903940.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"David Mueller kneels down in one of his Kernza fields Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at his farm in Halstead, Kan.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Perennial grains offer farmers a lifeline in the face of drought<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924460-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924460\" data-cid=\"9907802\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain just sweltered through its hottest summer on record<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924283-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924283\" data-cid=\"9906903\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018We weep for our mountain\u2019: Mont Blanc meltdown shakes communities<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923694-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2923694\" data-cid=\"9903940\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Perennial grains offer farmers a lifeline in the face of drought<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2923305-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2923305\" data-cid=\"9902694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Paris drops Mercator projection: France now looks smaller on world maps<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2924121-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2924121\" data-cid=\"9906031\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Is Europe\u2019s largest carbon capture project \u2018a pass to keep polluting\u2019?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">The prediction that this season\u2019s El Ni\u00f1o phenomenon will be stronger than normal has alarmed the Ecuadorian scientific community, which has warned of its impact on the flora and fauna of the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands.Home to the highest concentration of species not found elsewhere on Earth, the archipelago is made up of more than 230 islands, of which only four are inhabited. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador.The climatic phenomenon occurs periodically and in the equatorial Pacific is characterised by an increase in sea temperature and intense rainfall. Its strength is determined by measuring the water temperature in that area and comparing it to the normal average. If it is 2 degrees Celsius above normal, it is considered \u201cvery strong\u201d.The sea temperature will be about 2.2\u00b0C above normal, according to the latest projection from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which means that \u201cthe impact will be significant\u201d, says Franklin Ormaza, a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Maritime Engineering and Marine Sciences of the Higher Polytechnic School of the Coast (ESPOL).Will El Ni\u00f1o put Gal\u00e1pagos wildlife at risk?Animals and fish will be at risk because as the water temperature rises, \u201cplankton, algae, and smaller fish species, which are food for larger marine animals, practically disappear,\u201d explains Washington Tapia, director of Biodiversa Ecuador, a conservation organisation in the archipelago.He specifies that the species most at risk are the iconic Gal\u00e1pagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, petrels, flightless cormorants, albatrosses, and even sea lions. Coral colonies could also be seriously affected, as could tuna fishing.In the absence of food, \u201canimal colonies stop reproducing\u201d, disperse in search of food, and die of starvation in the process, explains scientist Gustavo Jim\u00e9nez, from the Charles Darwin Foundation.If the phenomenon occurs with the expected magnitude, the archipelago\u2019s vertebrate population could decrease by at least 20 per cent this year, Jim\u00e9nez adds.One of the most closely monitored species in the islands, the Gal\u00e1pagos penguins, serves as a marker of the impact of this climate phenomenon on the archipelago\u2019s fauna.According to data from the Charles Darwin Foundation, after the 1998 El Ni\u00f1o \u2013 one of the most powerful and destructive cycles \u2013 only 400 of the 1,300 existing Gal\u00e1pagos penguins remained.Effects of El Ni\u00f1o on Gal\u00e1pagos floraIf El Ni\u00f1o strikes with the expected force, the last three remaining Scalesia forests \u2013 dominated by 20-metre-tall giant daisy trees \u2013 could be at risk of disappearing, scientist Heinke Jager of the Charles Darwin Foundation says.Opuntia cacti, which grow along the seashore, would also be threatened.These plants, found only in the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands, support various ecosystems of insects, birds and other smaller plants that are part of the archipelago\u2019s unique biodiversity.Jager explains that \u201cthese species need human support\u201d because the heavy rains brought by El Ni\u00f1o will cause the territory they occupy to be overrun by invasive plants, such as blackberries, which have shorter reproductive cycles.Therefore, they have organised a plan that includes the eradication of invasive plants, the collection of seeds and the creation of nurseries to conserve threatened species. The Ecuadorian government, foundations, and nongovernmental organisations working in the archipelago are participating in the program.The Gal\u00e1pagos Islands were declared a Natural World Heritage Site in 1978 for their unique animal and plant species, which served as the basis for the English scientist Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/09\/11\/from-galapagos-penguins-to-prickly-pears-powerful-el-nino-could-have-an-outsized-impact-on&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/90\/81\/48\/1200x675_cmsv2_be20db15-9892-50df-85ae-bf1a05a47e61-9908148.jpg&#8221;] Healthcare Healthcare is driving Sweden&#8217;s election: Big promises, few easy fixes Earth News Is Europe\u2019s largest carbon capture project \u2018a pass to keep polluting\u2019? Tech News OpenAI makes U-turn and calls for binding national AI safety rules Travel News European leisure travel to Saudi Arabia forecast to grow 130% by 2030 Healthcare [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2140250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2140250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2140250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2140250\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2140250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2140250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2140250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}