Colombia has launched a nationwide campaign to conserve water, electricity and gas in response to the El Niño weather phenomenon. The initiative began on Sunday, with President Abelardo de la Espriella urging citizens to “avoid waste and understand that every drop of water and every kilowatt counts amid this crisis.” In a televised address, the president said, “Today I announce that I will personally start a national campaign for water, energy and gas savings. I will be the first to set an example. From the Presidency and in my own daily and family life, I will begin to apply savings measures.” He added that he has been practicing these measures for the past couple of months and that he cannot ask the Colombian people to make an effort that he is not willing to make himself. “I start at home and invite you to do the same. It is not about stopping a good life; it is about responsible consumption and avoiding waste. Small actions generate big results,” he said. The campaign follows Colombia’s official confirmation on 8 October that El Niño had arrived. The phenomenon is expected to persist until mid‑2027 and is projected to reduce rainfall, particularly in the Andean, Pacific and Caribbean regions. Five days later, President de la Espriella set 31 December as the deadline for the country to have its measures in place to prevent a potential power outage caused by the El Niño event. Speaking about the severity of the phenomenon, the president described it as a “very strong El Niño, the so‑called ‘Super Niño,’” noting that the country has been experiencing below‑average rainfall for six months and that October was the driest month of the semester. He highlighted that the country’s reservoirs are currently at 75.8 % of capacity, with a government target of exceeding 80 % by 30 November. “We have a decisive window of time to act; the measures we adopt now will be crucial to ensuring energy availability during next year’s summer,” he concluded.
Article source: El Universo | Image credit: El Universo