Prominent marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat has warned that the world should brace for the impact of a looming “Super El Niño” event, saying 2026 could become the hottest year on record as extreme weather intensifies worldwide.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr Thon, deputy dean for special affairs at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Fisheries, pointed to a severe heatwave sweeping across Europe, with nearly 20 people reportedly dying in France this week as a result.
He noted such heatwaves typically arrive one to two weeks later in the season and are usually less intense.
“The combination of global warming and increasingly unstable weather patterns has pushed temperatures in Paris to 40 degrees Celsius, while several cities along the French and Spanish coasts have recorded even higher temperatures, with some breaking historical records,” he said.
Mr Thon explained that while temperatures above 40C may not seem unusual to many Thais, Europeans are generally less accustomed to such conditions. Many residential buildings, particularly older structures, lack air-conditioning and were not designed to withstand extreme heat.
“I have repeatedly warned that disasters will become more frequent as global warming approaches a permanent increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The recurring heatwaves in Europe and the Super El Niño expected in the Asia-Pacific region could make this the hottest year in recorded history.”
He attributed the worsening climate crisis to greenhouse gas emissions and the destruction of natural ecosystems that once helped regulate the planet’s climate.
Mr Thon urged people to prepare for more climate-related disasters and the impact of El Niño in what he described as a year when “the planet is reaching the peak of its fury”.
Meanwhile, Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said the government has instructed the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) to implement the highest level of preparedness measures ahead of the rainy season and potential flooding.
The focus is on industrial zones and low-lying areas nationwide, particularly in major economic provinces such as Chon Buri, Rayong, and Chachoengsao, where more than 103,000 businesses operate with a combined registered capital exceeding 2.19 trillion baht.