Peru El Niño risk management and prevention

In response to anticipated climate emergencies in 2026 and 2027, the Peruvian government has initiated multi-sectoral preparations for the El Niño phenomenon. President Keiko Fujimori established the National Commission for Risk Management of the El Niño Phenomenon, chaired by the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation. This commission includes several ministries and heads of national water and civil defense authorities to coordinate strategic responses across 1,900 identified critical points in the country.

President Fujimori has since announced an S/800 million package to address the climate event. Of this total, S/450 million is earmarked for interventions at 380 critical points across regions including Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Áncash, Lima, Ica, and Arequipa to build river defenses and clean riverbeds. An additional S/350 million is allocated to combat drought and water scarcity. Furthermore, the government has authorized transfers exceeding S/179 million for immediate prevention works, such as installing dynamic barriers in critical ravines in Lima and Huarochirí to mitigate landslides and floods.

Complementing the state response, a private command group led by Carlos Neuhaus has formed to support prevention and response efforts. Composed of major business guilds such as SNI, Confiep, AGAP, and SNMPE, the group aims to provide the state with logistics, machinery, and management expertise. Minister of Economy and Finance Elmer Cuba noted that the government is working to create a “unified command between public and private sectors” to ensure organized prevention. The private sector continues to call for strict supervision by the Contraloría regarding any declarations of a state of emergency to prevent opportunistic procurement.